By Xinhua,
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Monday that the current indirect talks with Israe lare preparatory to direct negotiation between the two sides in the future.
“The current talks are preparatory to lay proper basics and elements for the launch of direct talks,” Muallem said at a joint press conference with his visiting Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere.
“As in any negotiating process there are ups and downs … the important thing is to keep the two sides involved in these talks until reaching this base,” he noted, adding that the second round of talks will start soon in Turkey and “we hope the talks will achieve the required progress.”
“There is now an opportunity to achieve the just and comprehensive peace in the region,” Muallem stressed, saying “we hope the Israelis will not miss it with their party disputes.”
“I believe that if Israel had responded to the UN Security Council resolutions No. 242 and 338, the region would have avoided a lot of disorders that we are witnessing today,” he added.
Syria and Israel confirmed last month that the two sides were conducting indirect peace talks through Turkey.
Peace negotiations between Israel and Syria foundered in 2000 largely over the fate of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by the Jewish state during the 1967 Middle East war.