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Turkey ready to mediate Israeli-Syrian peace talks - Erdogan

Türkiye Materials 24 December 2009 03:54 (UTC +04:00)
Turkish premier has reiterated his country's readiness to resume mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria if it was requested to do so, Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkey ready to mediate Israeli-Syrian peace talks - Erdogan

Turkish premier has reiterated his country's readiness to resume mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria if it was requested to do so, Anadolu Agency reported.

"Turkey will do what it has to do if a new peace process is launched. We are ready to re-engage if we are called for the duty," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint press conference Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Erdogan said while Syria favored Turkey's mediation Israel did not want Ankara's involvement and instead opted for French mediation.

"Our Syrian brothers say 'yes' to Turkey's mediation but Israel does not favor it. And we cannot push it unless Israel says 'yes,' too," Erdogan said.

Turkey has mediated five rounds of indirect talks last year before they collapsed following Israeli offensive on Gaza.

The Turkish premier has publicly criticized Israeli aggression against Palestine and he fired a salvo of such criticisms against Israeli president at a meeting in Davos earlier this year.

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