Erdogan: "Turkey is rady to mediate Israeli-Syrian peace talks"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday reiterated Turkey's readiness to resume mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria if it is asked. After meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus, as part of an official visit, Erdogan told reporters, "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 to this duty." Erdogan said while Syria favors Turkey's mediation, Israel doesn't currently want Ankara's involvement and is seeking French mediation instead. "Our Syrian brothers have agreed to Turkey's mediation, but Israel doesn't favor it. And we can't push this unless Israel agrees too," Erdogan said. Turkey last year mediated five rounds of indirect talks before they collapsed following the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Erdogan has publicly criticized Israeli aggression against Palestine. For his part, Assad criticized Israeli criticisms that Turkey acted subjectively in its mediation of the talks last year. "Turkey's attitude was objective, and this is what Israel disliked," he said. Turkey has made great efforts for peace in the Middle East, Assad said. "Turkey is one of the giant actors that plays a role for peace in the Middle East," he said. Turkey and Syria do want peace in the Middle East, but the process has ups and downs, Assad said. "Everyone is aware of Turkey's attitude on Gaza," he added. "Everyone wants to see an end to the embargo on Gaza. A Turkish convoy passed through Syria and carried humanitarian assistance to Gaza. I thank the Turkish people for their generosity." Touching on the agreements signed by Turkey and Syria during Erdogan's visit, Asad said that the deals place great responsibility on the two countries. Businesspeople of both countries have an important role to play, he added. Asked whether efforts against the terrorist PKK had been brought up during bilateral talks, the two leaders said they had but did not elaborate.