Galei Zahal (IDF Army) radio reports this morning that Syrian president Bashar Assad has acknowledged that he has been conducting indirect talks with Israel. The official Syrian news agency in Damascus, which quoted Assad, said the talks focused on the possible renewable of the peace process between Israel and Syria.
Responding to earlier media reports about indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Assad told senior Ba'ath party officials, "There have been efforts in this direction. Israel knows what is acceptable to Syria and what isn't. We oppose secret talks - whatever has been done will be disclosed," he was quoted as saying.
Last Thursday Assad said that "Syria is preparing itself for war with Israel. This is a logical and feasible option." He added, however, that he did not see a conflict erupting in the near future. "We are working on the basis that the war is coming and we're preparing ourselves for it, however we have analyzed the data and we don't see war on the horizon," explained Assad.
On Friday, the Syrian leader met former US president Jimmy Carter. The two men discussed the situation in the Middle East, and the blockade that Israel is currently imposing on the Gaza Strip.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 21, 2008
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