AP
June 16, 2008
JERUSALEM - Israeli officials yesterday said indirect peace talks with Syria had resumed, with Turkey mediating.
They added that two aides to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and a Syrian delegation were in Ankara and that the talks were expected to continue today.
There was no immediate comment on the resumption of talks from Syria or Turkey. Previous peace talks broke down in 2000.
"If the Syrians really want peace, they must agree to a summit meeting between the Syrian president and the Israeli prime minister," Israeli President Shimon Peres told visiting New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, according to a statement from Peres' office.
Olmert and Syrian President Bashir Assad have been invited to a conference in France next month, but there has been no indication that they plan to meet.
