Post by Salem6 on Jan 12, 2004 7:28:01 GMT
Israeli President Moshe Katsav has invited his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, to visit Jerusalem for talks on a peace accord for the Middle East.
Mr Katsav made the announcement on Israeli public radio.
Assad has said he is ready to resume negotiations with Israel
"I invite President Assad to come to Jerusalem to seriously negotiate with Israeli leaders on the conditions of a peace accord," Mr Katsav said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon this weekend appeared to link talks to Syrian action against terrorism.
"Israel is ready and willing to negotiate once Syria stops its help to terror," he said on Sunday.
He also told his cabinet there was no need to re-start talks with Syria until reports that it wanted a dialogue were clarified.
Mr Katsav, making his invitation, added: "Mr Assad will be welcome, but there should be no preconditions".
Last month, Mr Assad said he was ready to resume negotiations with Israel where they left off in the year 2000.
Mr Katsav made the announcement on Israeli public radio.
Assad has said he is ready to resume negotiations with Israel
"I invite President Assad to come to Jerusalem to seriously negotiate with Israeli leaders on the conditions of a peace accord," Mr Katsav said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon this weekend appeared to link talks to Syrian action against terrorism.
"Israel is ready and willing to negotiate once Syria stops its help to terror," he said on Sunday.
He also told his cabinet there was no need to re-start talks with Syria until reports that it wanted a dialogue were clarified.
Mr Katsav, making his invitation, added: "Mr Assad will be welcome, but there should be no preconditions".
Last month, Mr Assad said he was ready to resume negotiations with Israel where they left off in the year 2000.