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Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national obligation'
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agwncies
Tags: Syria, Mideast peace talks 

Hours after Israel and Syria announced that they had agreed to hold indirect peace talks, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday evening that he was "fulfilling a national duty" by pursuing the negotiations with Syria.

In simultaneous announcements shortly before noon, Damascus and Jerusalem announced they were engaging in indirect negotiations brokered by Turkey. Ankara made a similar statement at the same time.

At the heart of the negotiations is the return by Israel to Syria of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by Israel - along with the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem - in the 1967 Six-Day War. In recent years, the Arab League has offered Israel normalized ties with the entire Arab world in return for its withdrawal from all of these lands. In 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip.
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Olmert said during his evening speech in Tel Aviv that the declaration of intent represents the end of a phase in a process that has lasted for more than a year, which "would allow us to conduct peace talks with Syria." He noted that "three prime ministers before me reached exactly the same conclusion" and were "even ready [to make] painful and unprecedented concessions in order to achieve peace with Syria."

Amid scattered applause, the prime minister said that security along Israel's northern border was the principal source of concern for regional conflagration. "Under these circumstances it's always preferable to speak than to shoot. And I am happy that both sides decided to speak."

Announcement of the negotiations was the first official confirmation of contacts between the two enemy states in eight years. In their statements, both governments said they have declared their intent to conduct these indirect talks in good faith and with an open mind, with the goal of reaching a comprehensive peace.

"The sides have declared their intention to conduct the talks without prejudice and with openness... They have decided to conduct the dialogue in a serious and continuous manner with the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace," Olmert's bureau said in its statement.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said that, "Syria has started indirect peace talks with Israel under Turkish auspices. Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in good will and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace."

In the wake of the noon announcements, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said direct negotiations between the two nations would be possible if Israel proved it was serious in the indirect talks.

"We hope the Israeli side would be serious about them [indirect talks] so that both sides would be able to hold direct negotiations," Moallem said on the sidelines of a conference in the Qatari capital.

Moallem also said that in advance of the negotiations, Israel had promised to withdraw from the Golan Heights, to the borders drawn before the 1967 war. There was no comment from Israel on that matter.

An Israeli official said Wednesday that Olmert gave Syria a "formula" for the Golan Heights "that [Syrian President Bashar] Assad wanted," although the details remain secret.

Another Israeli official familiar with the two country's contacts warned Wednesday that, "It will be a very long process. The direct talks themselves have not yet started."

Both nations showed their appreiciation for the assistance of Turkey, the Muslim state which has good ties with both Israel and Syria.

Officials from both sides now in Ankara

An Israeli government official said Wednesday that senior officials from both sides had been in Turkey for talks over the past few days.

"The prime minister visited Turkey in February 2007 and in talks with the Turkish prime minister it was agreed that Turkey would start to act in a mediating role," the official said.

"The idea was to restart the peace process with Syria... We feel these contacts reached fruition about three weeks ago. It was decided to have a gathering in Ankara. The two officials have been there since Monday, in parallel with Syrian representatives," the official said, stopping short of confirming any direct talks between the two sides.

Olmert's aides Yoram Turbovitz and Shalom Turjeman were named as the two Israeli representatives who had been Ankara from Monday holding indirect talks with Syrian officials, under Turkish mediation.

Later Wednesday, Channel 10 television aired footage of Turbovitz and Turjeman returning home that evening.

Syrian Foreign Ministry adviser Riad Daoudi is leading the Syrian team, diplomats familiar with the talks said Wednesday. Daoudi, a lawyer, has worked on the details of the Syrian position on the full return of the Golan Heights.

"Daoudi has been in Ankara for a few days. At this stage it does not seem that he has met with the Israelis face to face," one of the diplomats said.

Israel and Syria last held peace talks in the United States in 2000 but they collapsed after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the fate of the Golan.

A government official said that preparations for the talks have been underway since last year. "This has been worked on for quite some time... This started last year, during a visit by the prime minister to Turkey, and it's coming to fruition now."

Olmert, who relaunched peace talks with the Palestinians six months ago, has said he is willing to discuss handing back the Golan to Syria in return for Damascus severing ties with Iran and guerrilla movements hostile to Israel, notably the group Hamas and Lebanese-based Hezbollah.

'Israel committed to both Palestinian and Syrian tracks'

a senior Israeli official moved Wednesday to issue reassurances that the renewed negotiations will not come at the expense of ongoing statehood talks with the Palestinians.

"The government remains committed to pursuing both the Syrian and Palestinian tracks," said the official after the official announcement of the indirect Israeli-Syrian talks.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians welcomed the latest news. "We want to reach a comprehensive peace and therefore we support talks between Israel and Syria," he said.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS / Small piece of land could scupper Israel-Syria talks
  • Syria-Israel peace deal 'requires shift in U.S. policy'
  • MK Yishai: Syria is still the axis of evil
  • Knesset panel demands account of talks with Palestinians, Syria
  • Report: U.S. asks Turkey to push harder for Israel-Syria talks
  • Olmert said ready to bring about peace agreement with Syria
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      1.   olmert : giving golan or going to jail 12:12  |  shame 21/05/08
      2.   IT WON`T LAST MORE THAN 1 WEEK 12:15  |  indrajaya 21/05/08
      3.   Golan Heights 12:15  |  E.C. 21/05/08
      4.   Don`t trust the snake 12:23  |  David 21/05/08
      5.   Let`s assume Indrajaya is correct 12:33  |  The Judge 21/05/08
      6.   Syria is a Sovereign Country. No Pre conditions.. 12:36  |  Stephen. 21/05/08
      7.   just like sharon 12:43  |  tony harris 21/05/08
      8.   The Golan ? The security insurance of Israel. 12:49  |  Jean Van Daem 21/05/08
      9.   Peace with Syria - B`Ezrat HaShem 12:54  |  ERSB 21/05/08
      10.   Peace with Syria ? 12:58  |  Steve A 21/05/08
      11.   Tosefta deserves some praise... 13:00  |  hubal 21/05/08
      12.   NOOOOOOOOOOO. Olmert has NO mandate 13:02  |  Moshe 21/05/08
      13.   Olmert is yesterday`s man and is not to be taken seriously! 13:06  |  redmike 21/05/08
      14.   bad idea 13:07  |  joki 21/05/08
      15.   If Syria is serious.... 13:11  |  Jeff 21/05/08
      16.   Stop Talansky and the Rightwing Conspiracy 13:13  |  Its Obvious 21/05/08
      17.   No way!!! 13:18  |  Daniel 21/05/08
      18.   no. 8: the moderate israelis crave for 13:19  |  tomer 21/05/08
      19.   "Olmart": Open 24/7 for *personal* processing of your funds! 13:21  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/05/08
      20.   Praying these talks succeed... 13:22  |  Palestinian in UK 21/05/08
      21.   Peace! 13:25  |  Syrian 21/05/08
      22.   Grave Mistake for Israel 13:30  |  Brod 21/05/08
      23.   Yes, Hezbolla bases on the Kinneret Please! 13:36  |  Oldmerd Supporter 21/05/08
      24.   OLMERT NEED TO BE REMOVED NOW! 13:38  |  20x20 21/05/08
      25.   Olmert making peace to get the left to look away from his crimes! 13:39  |  Ben 21/05/08
      26.   Syrian and Pal in UK 13:39  |  ERSB 21/05/08
      27.   To Brod #22 13:43  |  Syrian 21/05/08
      28.   A little here a little there, then no Israel 13:44  |  Levi 21/05/08
      29.   Olmert needs the public distracted 13:47  |  Avi 21/05/08
      30.   GOODBYE GOLAN HEIGHTS 13:51  |  dave 21/05/08
      31.   Great news for the progressive camp 13:56  |  Leon Rosgarten 21/05/08
      32.   Thanks ERSB! 14:01  |  Syrian 21/05/08
      33.   Even the Israeli Left knows it`s a trick 14:03  |  Yonatan 21/05/08
      34.   TALKS MUST BE BASED ON "HATAY" MODEL NOT "SINAI" MODEL 14:03  |  G. Marcus 21/05/08
      35.   Israel may only retreat to the INTERNATIONAL BORDER and not to... 14:08  |  Amihai 21/05/08
      36.   # 27, LEVI 14:08  |  indrajaya 21/05/08
      37.   #16 - are you working for the PM`s office ? 14:09  |  redmike 21/05/08
      38.   Which FOOL thinks giving away more land will result in peace 14:13  |  Joe 21/05/08
      39.   #12 How to get around the Golan Heights Law 14:16  |  Johnboy 21/05/08
      40.   Did Olmert take the approval of Ben Jabo Ben Tize be4 starting ne 14:20  |  Aounist 21/05/08
      41.   While my guitar gently weeps 14:25  |  hanoi 21/05/08
      42.   olmert would throw in his own mother 14:26  |  bob 21/05/08
      43.   Olmert the political prostitute,just lowered the price 14:29  |  Simon 21/05/08
      44.   I can see giving up the Golan 14:29  |  Yonatan 21/05/08
      45.   Olmert sends tribute to Assad 14:30  |  Herbert Kaine 21/05/08
      46.   1# 14:31  |  Keops 21/05/08
      47.   #1 14:33  |  A.M.. 21/05/08
      48.   TURBOVITZ=THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE 14:35  |  OLMERT=CRIMINAL 21/05/08
      49.   Olmert lost Lebanon war,now wants to give Iran a high ground 14:36  |  Simon 21/05/08
      50.   Furutre border will have to be the international border and not 14:40  |  Shuli 21/05/08
      51.   National Socialism 14:43  |  hanoi 21/05/08
      52.   Syrian, I`m not scared of peace, I`m scared of Olmert 14:44  |  Simon 21/05/08
      53.   ERSB, Syrian, UK Pal 14:45  |  Ari 21/05/08
      54.   First cosmetic surgery,then envelopes with money, now the Golan 14:46  |  Simon 21/05/08
      55.   Lets give up Olmert 14:51  |  Zev 21/05/08
      56.   Syrian Foreign Ministry but No Israeli Foreign Ministry 14:58  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/05/08
      57.   # 55, ZEV 14:58  |  Indrajaya 21/05/08
      58.   Olmert is a Traitor 14:59  |  Joe Klien 21/05/08
      59.   Don`t give back the Golan Heights 15:01  |  Doma 21/05/08
      60.   Been There, Done That 15:04  |  Clickfool 21/05/08
      61.   OBSOLESCENCE OF CRIME FORMS 15:05  |  KEOPS 21/05/08
      62.   Olmert how many envelopes with cash for the Golan 15:06  |  Simon 21/05/08
      63.   #31 - nothing is happening. Olmert is powerless! 15:13  |  redmike 21/05/08
      64.   Tomer, did we meet in Neot Semadar? 15:13  |  Cord Henrik Kaldrack 21/05/08
      65.   Livni stand up or pay the political price by association 15:20  |  Simon 21/05/08
      66.   Give the Golan to avoid going to jail! 15:23  |  Avraham 21/05/08
      67.   So Olmert surrenders even before "negotiations" start! 15:24  |  Arie 21/05/08
      68.   America`s long-distance zionists on the warpath