Syria waits Israeli vote for talks
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 03, 2009 00:00
DAMASCUS - Syria is awaiting the outcome of the Israeli general election before deciding whether to renew indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey with the Jewish state, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told reporters yesterday.
"We will have another evaluation" of a revival of peace talks if the government formed after the Feb. 10 election "shows it has a wish for peace, a just and comprehensive peace based on the implementation of U.N. resolutions," Muallem said at a joint news conference with Irish counterpart Micheal Martin.
After the Israeli offensive, the people of the region "are no longer enthusiastic about the peace process. Their priority is now to reduce the suffering of Gaza's people through the lifting of the blockade, the opening of crossing points, reconstruction and consolidation of the cease-fire," he said. "Then we will move on to inter-Palestinian reconciliation," between the Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip and the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, Muallem said. Syria and Israel began indirect peace discussions last May with Turkey as intermediary. Damascus suspended discussions, judging that the "Israeli aggression" in the Gaza Strip made continuation of talks impossible.
After the Israeli offensive, the people of the region "are no longer enthusiastic about the peace process. Their priority is now to reduce the suffering of Gaza's people through the lifting of the blockade, the opening of crossing points, reconstruction and consolidation of the cease-fire," he said. "Then we will move on to inter-Palestinian reconciliation," between the Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip and the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, Muallem said. Syria and Israel began indirect peace discussions last May with Turkey as intermediary. Damascus suspended discussions, judging that the "Israeli aggression" in the Gaza Strip made continuation of talks impossible.