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ANKARA : Turkey on Wednesday confirmed that it is mediating in indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria.
"Syria and Israel have launched indirect peace negotiations under Turkey's auspices," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the three countries had agreed to make the announcement simultaneously.
Syria and Israel "have declared that they will continue these negotiations with good will and open minds," the statement said.
"The two sides have decided to pursue the negotiations in a determined and continuous manner with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace within the framework of the Madrid Conference's principles," it added.
Peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down in 2000 over the fate of the strategic Golan Heights plateau, which Israel has occupied for four decades.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad revealed last month that Turkey had passed on a message from Israel, expressing its readiness to swap the Golan Heights for peace, as Ankara renewed mediation efforts launched last year. - AFP/ms
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