Syria: Israel not after real peace

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem

Syria says Israel is not interested in real peace although Damascus and Tel Aviv have launched indirect talks brokered by Turkey.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told the London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday that the recent remarks by Israeli President Shimon Peres calling on the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to follow in the footsteps of the former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, were a sign of the regime's unwillingness to achieve real peace.

He termed the Israeli president's comments as "putting the cart before the horse".

"We had four rounds of talks, promising talks, in Istanbul. We agreed to have the fifth round... But because of the situation in Israel, the Israeli side asked the Turks to postpone it," he added. "We are waiting to see what the position of Ms. Livni's government will be."

"The most important thing is whether or not to continue, but to have the will, the political will, to achieve peace based on the Madrid terms of reference and land-for-peace,” the Syrian FM said.

Muallem also reiterated Iran's role as a main player in the region, adding that Tehran would not opposed to any peaceful means to liberate the Golan Heights occupied by Israel in 1967.