A fourth round of indirect Israeli-Syrian talks ends

Thursday July 31, 2008 04:10 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday that a fourth round of indirect Israeli-Syrian talks ended in Istanbul after two days of deliberations.  The talks were held under Turkish mediation, and were described by a Turkish source as positive.

The source added that the fifth round of talks will be held by mid August and will also be indirect.

The indirect talks between Israel and Syria started in May under Turkish mediation.

On Monday, Israeli newspaper Haaretz, said that the main subject of talks will be moving towards direct talks.

Haaretz added that members of the Syrian negotiations team stated that Damascus is interested in intensifying the talks before the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, leaves office.  

Israeli sources reported that Syria could agree to hold direct talks with Israel if a European representative joins the talks. Israel believes that Syria would ask for a French representative to the talks especially since France and Syria have good relations and France is currently the rotating head of the EU.

Meanwhile, the Syrian ambassador in Washington, Imad Mustafa, said that his country wants an end to the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands, and that Damascus will not provide any concessions regarding this issue.

arab world | peace process | news report saed at imemc dot org