Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad told the Syrian parliament Tuesday that he is ready for peace talks with Israel; however, he conditioned such talks on a prior formal commitment by Israel to evacuate and concede all of the Golan Heights.
"They must provide us with guarantees that all of the Golan will be returned," Assad declared in a speech after being sworn in as Syria's president for a second seven-year term. "We cannot enter negotiations without knowing what they're going to be about." He said that he expected Israel to "at least make a 'deposit,' as Rabin did, or [provide] something in writing to make sure that the talks will not be about the land, because the land will be completely restored. ...Talks should be on security measures and [bilateral] relations, as has been the case during the last decade."
For Syrians, Assad continued, "peace is tied to the word 'land.'" Talks with Israel would only be conducted, therefore, "to achieve the main principle of land for peace and the return of the whole Golan."
Israel must do more than "send messengers," Assad chided, as "this is not serious." He also revealed that a third country is mediating between Israel and Syria. Observers said he might be referring to Turkey.
Livni rejected such talks as long as Syria continues its support for the Lebanese Hizbullah.
On Monday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered the services of his office to facilitate negotiations between Israel and Syria. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected such talks as long as Syria continues its support for the Lebanese Hizbullah and other terrorist organizations.
On the other hand, in an interview with the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite television station last week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for immediate and direct Syria-Israel negotiations.
"I turn to you, Mr. Assad, and call for direct peace negotiations," the Prime Minister said, "but you... prefer American go-betweens. The American president says: 'I don't want to stand between Bashar Assad and Ehud Olmert. If you want to talk, sit down and talk.'"
Prime Minister Olmert went on to state that Israel has "no hostile intentions towards Syria." When asked where he and Assad could meet, Olmert said that he is willing to meet the Syrian leader "anywhere he'd like."