Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told reporters in Luxembourg today that the second round of indirect talks Turkey in mediating between Israel and Syria were "completed with success," that both sides are "very satisfied" and working on further details. Babacan added that two more meetings have been scheduled for July.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is scheduled to sit at the same table as Syria's President Basher Assad on July 13, during a conference of Mediterranean states.

President of Israel Shimon Peres yesterday called on Assad to change the negotiations to direct, instead of through a third party.