Syrian and Israeli leaders voice support for resuming peace talks

Syrian President Bashar Assad and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak both voiced support for resuming peace talks in an exchange of statements yesterday. Assad, during a visit to Zagreb, announced that he was in favor of renewing talks with Israel and asked for support from the European Union, citing the need for a third party's involvement. Several Israeli officials responded by voicing support for continuing dialogue with Syria.

Yossi Yehoshua reports in Yedioth Ahronoth:

"We have national support for continued talks with Israel," said Assad following his meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.

"We call on the countries of Europe to contribute their part and to help Turkey, but also to help us begin again the talks from the point at which they stopped," said Assad. Mesic said that he supported a renewal of the talks and the return of the Golan Heights to Syria while assuring security for Israel.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak responded yesterday to Assad's statements and said that peace with Syria was "a central brick in any stable regional arrangement." Barak said that "Israel sought in the past and will continue to seek in the future ways of promoting peace with Syria."

Top officials in the Israeli security establishment supports a resumption of dialogue on the Syrian track, including both Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi.