Assad
Photo: Reuters
'Syrian officials interested in renewing talks with Israel'
London-based al-Hayat reports Syrian officials told Denmark's foreign minister Damascus ready to revive negotiations with Israel
Senior Syrian officials told the Danish foreign minister, Per Stig Møller, that their country was "ready to renew negotiations with Israel under the auspices of the international Quartet," London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat reported Friday.
The paper reported that Møller has expressed his willingness to act "in order to expand the Road Map to include the Syrian channel as well."
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According to al-Hayat, a Danish mediation was needed due to Israel's hesitancy to revive the talks, and because of the US' lack of willingness to get involved in such a process.
Syrian President Bashar Assad said this week that Turkey and other European countries have been involved in third-party negotiations between Israel and Damascus.
Diplomats in Damascus commented on Assad's statements by saying that "the Syrian president's speech about negotiations for peace with Israel was clear and threw the ball in Israel's court and in the face of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert."
The diplomats said it was possible for Israel and Syria to hold talks in Turkey if Israel agreed to Syrian demands that a withdrawal from the Golan Heights would be the basis for any peace agreement.
