Syrian president Bashar Assad has turned down an Israeli bid to renew talks with the Jewish state, reported the London-based Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper Monday.
According to the paper, Sharon wants to have secret talks with Syria. It added that Sharon’s offer was carried by European Union Envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Angel Moratinos, who arrived in Damascus on Saturday.
"Syria’s demands are clearly known," a senior Syrian source told the newspaper, adding that Syria was willing to return to the negotiating table under the aegis of territory for peace, as laid out at the Madrid Conference, and only after Israel carried out UN Security Council resolutions.
The source stressed that Assad would not allow Sharon to ‘maneuver’ between Arab states in negotiations.
Moratinos was quoted Sunday as telling reporters after meeting foreign minister Farouq Shara that he conveyed a "good will message" from Sharon to Assad.
"The message is addressed to president Assad and the Syrian authorities, the message is (about) good will and intentions of the proposals from the Israeli Prime minister (-elect)," he told journalists.
"We cannot just forget about these ten years of intense negotiations. We cannot allow the peace process to collapse, our duty and our responsibility is to work as partners in order to achieve a global and final peace in the region," said Moratinos – Albawaba.com
