Turkey mediates talks between Syria and Israel
Israel and Syria have been in disagreement over the Golan Heights
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Wednesday, 21, May 2008 02:00
Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey, the Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has confirmed.
A statement released today claimed that both countries "have declared their intent to conduct these talks in good faith and openly".
Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem said that the talks had resulted in an Israeli commitment to withdraw from the Golan Heights to a border line declared in 1967 talks.
"We received commitments for a withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4th 1967 line," Mr Muallem told the AFP news agency during a visit to Bahrain.
"This is not new. It started since [assassinated Israeli prime minister Yitzhak] Rabin's pledge [for a total pullout] in 1993, and all subsequent Israeli prime ministers abided by it," he said.
A "comprehensive peace agreement" is the goal for the Turley-mediated talks, the statement confirmed.
Previous peace talks between the two countries broke down in 2000 over disagreements involving the Golan Heights.
Syria has repeatedly called for the return of the entire Golan region, demands Israel has thus far refused to accept.