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| Israel-Syria talks 'constructive' | |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Israel and Syria have completed two days of indirect peace talks in Turkey, with Israeli and Turkish officials hailing them as a success. | |
| The two sides have agreed to at least two more sets of talks under Turkish mediation, the officials said. | |
| The Israeli delegation is thought to include two top aides of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | |
| Previous peace talks collapsed in 2000 over disagreements about the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967. | |
| The two sides announced the existence of indirect talks last month. | |
| An unnamed Israeli official told journalists the discussions had been held "in a positive and constructive atmosphere". | |
| "The two sides reiterated their commitment to make progress in the talks and to meet on a regular basis." | |
| Turkish officials also said an agreement had been reached to carry on the talks, although Damascus has not yet confirmed that any talks have taken place. | |
| And it is not thought there is any firm plan for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides. | |
| At the moment, Turkish officials have been passing messages between the two delegations. | |
| Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Sunday that Israeli and Syrian leaders should meet. | Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Sunday that Israeli and Syrian leaders should meet. |
| He recalled the groundbreaking visit by Egypt's Anwar Sadat to Israel in 1977 which triggered a process that led to a peace treaty. | He recalled the groundbreaking visit by Egypt's Anwar Sadat to Israel in 1977 which triggered a process that led to a peace treaty. |
| "If the Syrians really want peace, they must agree to a summit meeting between the Syrian president and the Israeli prime minister," said Mr Peres during a visit to the US. | "If the Syrians really want peace, they must agree to a summit meeting between the Syrian president and the Israeli prime minister," said Mr Peres during a visit to the US. |
| The Syrian government has insisted peace talks can be resumed only on the basis of Israel returning the Golan Heights. | |
| Israeli authorities, for their part, have demanded that Syria abandon its support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups. | Israeli authorities, for their part, have demanded that Syria abandon its support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups. |