Israel invites Syria for peace talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 12, 2004

Israel invites Syria for peace talks

Israeli President Moshe Katsav on Monday invited Syrian President Bashar Assad to visit Israel, with no preconditions.

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Israeli President Moshe Katsav on Monday invited Syrian President Bashar Assad to visit Israel, with no preconditions.

"I invite the president of Syria to come to Jerusalem to meet with the country's leaders and conduct serious negotiations, if that is his wish," Katsav said during an interview to Israel Radio.

He noted "I'm the president of Israel and I have the authority to invite foreign presidents to come to Israel."

"There is no doubt that President Assad is in serious trouble, and his intentions aren't pure," Katsav told the radio.

"but we must seriously examine his proposal to renew negotiations with Israel in a direct meeting and not through the media," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also said Sunday night that Israel is ready for peace talks with Syria if the latter stops support for terror agents.

"I believe that what should be done is that Syria should stop the help and support for terrorist agents and if that happens I believe Israel will be ready," Sharon told reporters in Jerusalem. Assad told the New York Times last month that he was ready to resume negotiations with Israel where they broke off in 2000.

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