Syria takes tentative step towards peace talks

SYRIA, one of Hezbollah’s main backers, said in remarks published yesterday that it will press for a ceasefire to end the fighting between Israel and the Islamic militant group but only in the framework of a broader Middle East peace initiative, signalling it was ready to help defuse the Lebanese crisis.

However, Damascus warned it would not stand by if the Israelis stepped up their offensive in Lebanon.

“Syria and Spain are working to achieve a ceasefire, a prisoners’ swap and to start a peace process as one package,” Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal was quoted as saying by a Spanish daily newspaper.

Bilal said Damascus would cooperate only within the framework of a broader Middle East peace initiative that would include a return of the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967.

“Syria is working on achieving real, comprehensive, fair peace, based on the withdrawal from all the occupied territories, including the Golan,” Bilal said.

It is unlikely Israel would agree to such a deal, but the remarks were the first indication of Syria’s willingness to be involved in international peacemaking efforts.