Syria wants Turkish mediation to continue

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

refid:11128042 ilişkili resim dosyası

Before indirect talks can be reinitiated, a new government must be formed in Israel and the humanitarian crisis suffered by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip must end, NTV quoted Turkish Foreign Ministry officials.

The details were discussed at a meeting Monday between Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim and his Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, at a conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to raise reconstruction aid for Palestinians in the territory.

Turkey was host to four rounds of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel before the process was halted following Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. Turkish leaders were extremely critical of Israel's military actions with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan saying a number of times that they were a "humanitarian disgrace" and a "stain on history's page."

But at the same time, Turkish officials have said they are willing to resume their role as a mediator between Tel Aviv and Damascus.