Syrian president on Saturday said Israel does not appear to be a partner in the process. "I don't think conditions are ripe for a successful mediation because Israel does not appear to be ready for peace," Syrian President Bashar Assad told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
However, the Syrian leader stated Syria was still working for progress to reach peace with Israel. "Even if there is one per cent risk of a war, we are working to eliminate that," Assad said in response to a question over whether the two rivals could go to war over their conflicts.
Assad also accused Israel of maintaining hostile policies toward the Palestinians.
On his part, Gul said Turkey would like to help contribute to the peace process for the stability and welfare of the region. "I assured President Gul that Syria is committed to the Turkish mediation in which we see a solution and a success, since a successful mediation means achieving peace," Assad stressed.
"It seems that peace is not required by the Israelis…but Syria affirms the Turkish mediation and role, and affirms that Israel is not a partner, at least in the current stage, and I don't believe that it was a partner in the preceding stage. Nobody in this region forgot what Ehud Olmert did when he wanted to respond to Prime Minister Erdogan within days on peace…the response was attacking Gaza and the killing of thousands…not to mention what is happening now under the siege on Gaza and what is happening in Jerusalem," Assad added.
