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ANKARA: Syria Sees Itself As A Local Peacemaker

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  • ANKARA: Syria Sees Itself As A Local Peacemaker

    SYRIA SEES ITSELF AS A LOCAL PEACEMAKER

    Hurriyet
    June 19 2009
    Turkey

    YEREVAN - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad welcomed the normalization
    talks between Turkey and Armenia and offered to mediate more
    discussions between the two neighbors.

    During an official visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan on Wednesday,
    al-Assad met with his Armenian counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, and said,
    "We in Syria have received with great satisfaction the steps that
    are aimed at normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations." "I told the
    president of Armenia that we are ready to help move forward those
    relations," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quoted the Syrian leader
    as saying. He also argued that Syria is in a position to do so because
    of its "close relationships" with both Armenia and Turkey.

    Sarkisian did not comment on al-Assad's offer during their
    joint news conference. Instead, he praised the current state of
    Syrian-Armenian ties and stressed the need to boost bilateral economic
    cooperation. "Our friendship is a good example that must be showcased
    to both our peoples and others."

    Ankara and Yerevan agreed in April on a "road map" deal for U.S.-backed
    talks that could lead to the normalizing of ties and the opening of
    their border, which Turkey closed in a show of support to Azerbaijan
    in 1993 after the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories in
    the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkish officials, however,
    have said Turkey will not open its border with Armenia before
    the neighboring country ends its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh,
    reassuring Azerbaijani leaders that Ankara's efforts to reconcile
    with Yerevan would not undermine the country's interests.

    Syria held Turkey-mediated indirect talks with Israel last year,
    however, they collapsed over Israel's offensive on Gaza in late
    December. Damascus, which is seeking a complete Israeli withdrawal
    from the Golan Heights, Syria wants to resume stalled indirect peace
    talks with Jewish state, according to Turkish officials.
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