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 30 August 2008 12:30 BST

Syria joins US peace talks

Sunday, 25 Nov 2007 20:35
Syria to attend summit in US aimed at reviving stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process
Syria has accepted an invitation to attend talks in the United States aimed at reviving the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The Middle Eastern state, a longstanding foe of Israel, had previously said it would only participate in the discussions at Annapolis, Maryland, next week if the status of the disputed Golan Heights was on the agenda.

Israel annexed the land from Syria in 1967 and possession of the territory has resulted in hostility between the two neighbours

According to the official Syrian news agency Damascus is sending deputy foreign minister Fayssal Mekdad to take part in the talks.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas both arrived in Washington today to meet with George Bush ahead of the Annapolis talks.

The ultimate aim of the summit is the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Efforts towards this goal have stalled since 2000 when president Bill Clinton hosted a similar conference.

An aide to the Palestinian president, Nabil Abu Rdainah, told the Reuters news agency: "We consider the Annapolis conference a launching pad for final status negotiations that will lead to the realisation of the Palestinian people's dream of establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."

The key issues between the two sides are the territory on which to establish the new state of Palestine - which will be carved out of what is presently Israel - the return of refugees displaced in previous wars and issues regarding Israel's security against terrorist attacks.

Another important issue is that of Jerusalem, with both sides claiming the city must be a part of their respective territories.

Concern remains that only the Palestinians of the West Bank, led by president Abbas, will benefit from the conference. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip remains ostracised from the international community.End of story


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