Davutoglu: "possible new Syrian-Israeli talks depend on Israel's attitude"

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said yesterday that the possible resumption of indirect talks between Syria and Israel depends on Tel Aviv. "We have many times repeated our position on this issue, as has Syria," Davutoglu told a joint press conference alongside his visiting Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara. "The course of future developments depends on Israel's attitude." The issue was briefly discussed over the weekend during Davutoglu's meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem on the sidelines of the Turkish-Syrian High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, said Davutoglu. Al-Moallem recently said Syria wants Turkey to mediate any new indirect peace talks with Israel and that any other efforts would be subordinate to Ankara's role. "For us, contributing to regional peace is a debt, a duty, but to do this we need parties who want peace," said Davutoglu. "Whenever an appropriate climate emerges, this issue will come up and be discussed again." Asked if Switzerland was conducting telephone diplomacy over long-stalled Turkish-Armenian reconciliation efforts, Davutoglu replied: "The process has not yet ended, so there's no reason for it to resume." He added, "This is an ongoing process for us, and never ended – and it will not end before peace is achieved in the Caucasus."