DAMASCUS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Syria and Israel on Wednesday confirmed in surprise announcements that the two sides were conducting indirect peace talks through Turkey.

    "Syria has started indirect peace talks with Israel under the auspices of Turkey," a Syrian foreign ministry source was quoted as saying.

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a session of parliament in Jerusalem May 21, 2008. Israel and Syria said on Wednesday they had launched indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials in Istanbul, the first confirmation of negotiations between the two neighbours in eight years. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "The two sides expressed their desire to conduct the talks in good faith and decided to pursue a dialogue seriously and sustainable to achieve the goal of a comprehensive peace in conformity with the Madrid Peace conference," the source added.

    The source was referring to the principle Israel and its Arab neighbors adopted during the Madrid conference in 1991 that Israel exchange territories it seized in the 1967 Middle East war in return for peace.

    The source also noted the "tireless efforts" made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan since more than a year ago and expressed appreciation for the role of Turkey and the efforts of the prime minister, SANA said.

    In Jerusalem, Israel also officially confirmed the indirect talks.

    "Syria and Israel have started indirect peace talks, under the auspices of Turkey. The two sides stated their intention to conduct these talks in good faith and with an open mind," Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

    "They decided to pursue the dialogue between them in a serious and continuous way, in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive peace," it added.

    According to Israel's Ha'aretz daily, Olmert's aides Yoram Turbovitz and Shalom Turjeman have been in Ankara since Monday, holding talks with Syrian officials under Turkish mediation.

    In April, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed indirect contact with Israel through a third party to explore the possibility of resuming peace talks.

    He, meanwhile, rejected secret talks with Israel, saying what could Syria do in this regard will be announced to the public and the only criterion to accept any talks is to be serious and committed to UN resolutions.

    Later in April, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan confirmed that Syria and Israel had asked Ankara for mediation and that such efforts would start at a low level and it would bring the leaders together if successful.

    Assad has said that his country "is willing to continue cooperation with Turkey in all what serves security and stability of the region," and stressed that Syria wants the talks to be conducted publicly and oversee by the United States.

    Peace negotiations between Israel and Syria, still technically at war with each other, foundered in 2000, when then Israeli Prime Minister and now Defense Minister Ehud Barak refused Syria's request to fully withdraw from the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau Israel seized in 1967 and annexed in 1981, a move not recognized by the international community.

    The Syrian government has insisted that peace talks can be resumed only on the basis that Israel return the Golan while Israel, for its part, has demanded that Syria abandon its support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups.

    However, the two sides have been trying to resume peace talks since last year, Ha'aretz quoted a government official as saying. "This started already last year, during a visit by the prime minister (of Israel) to Turkey, and it's coming to fruition now."

    Israeli officials have said that the Jewish state is interested in reaching peace with its northeastern neighbor and open to high-level talks through Turkey if Damascus breaks away from "the axis of evil."

    Media reports have also said Israel had conveyed a message to Syria that it is ready to relinquish the highland for peace.

    According the magazine Paris Match, Olmert has said he is prepared to bring about a peace agreement between Israel and Syria during his term in office. 

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a session of parliament in Jerusalem May 21, 2008. Israel and Syria said on Wednesday they had launched indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials in Istanbul, the first confirmation of negotiations between the two neighbours in eight years.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

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