(Syria, 13th) Diplomatic sources stated that, during Syrian interim President Shala’s visit to Azerbaijan, Syrian and Israeli officials held face-to-face talks in the Azerbaijani capital.
AFP reported that, according to diplomatic sources in Damascus, while Shala was visiting Baku, a Syrian official and an Israeli official met locally on Saturday (July 12). This move marks an important step in the relationship between these two countries, hostile to each other for decades.
The source further added that Shala himself did not participate in the meeting. The focus of the talks was Israel's recent military presence in Syria.
In December last year, Shala, who led Syrian opposition forces, overthrew the Assad regime and then established a transitional government.
Amid dramatic changes in the Syrian situation, Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in December last year to prevent key military assets from falling into the hands of the transitional government led by Shala. Israel also sent troops into the United Nations-controlled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
Shala has repeatedly stated that Syria does not seek new conflict with its neighbor Israel, but instead calls on the international community to put pressure on Israel and force it to stop its attacks.
The Syrian government has recently confirmed it has had indirect contact with Israel, seeking to restore the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
According to the Syria-Israel “Disengagement of Forces Agreement,” both sides established a military buffer zone on the eastern side of the Golan Heights. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force operates within this zone, continuously monitoring the ceasefire between the two sides.
Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar said in June that Israel intends to reach a peace and normalization agreement with Syria.
Syrian state media, quoting government sources, responded that such a statement is “premature.”
However, US President’s special envoy for Syrian affairs, Barak, said during his visit to Lebanon this week that dialogue between Syria and Israel has already begun.
During Shala’s visit to Baku, he held talks with Azerbaijani President Aliyev. A statement from the Azerbaijani presidential office said that Azerbaijan would begin exports of natural gas to Syria through Turkey, an important ally of both countries.
AFP reported that, according to diplomatic sources in Damascus, while Shala was visiting Baku, a Syrian official and an Israeli official met locally on Saturday (July 12). This move marks an important step in the relationship between these two countries, hostile to each other for decades.
The source further added that Shala himself did not participate in the meeting. The focus of the talks was Israel's recent military presence in Syria.
In December last year, Shala, who led Syrian opposition forces, overthrew the Assad regime and then established a transitional government.
Amid dramatic changes in the Syrian situation, Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in December last year to prevent key military assets from falling into the hands of the transitional government led by Shala. Israel also sent troops into the United Nations-controlled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
Shala has repeatedly stated that Syria does not seek new conflict with its neighbor Israel, but instead calls on the international community to put pressure on Israel and force it to stop its attacks.
The Syrian government has recently confirmed it has had indirect contact with Israel, seeking to restore the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
According to the Syria-Israel “Disengagement of Forces Agreement,” both sides established a military buffer zone on the eastern side of the Golan Heights. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force operates within this zone, continuously monitoring the ceasefire between the two sides.
Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar said in June that Israel intends to reach a peace and normalization agreement with Syria.
Syrian state media, quoting government sources, responded that such a statement is “premature.”
However, US President’s special envoy for Syrian affairs, Barak, said during his visit to Lebanon this week that dialogue between Syria and Israel has already begun.
During Shala’s visit to Baku, he held talks with Azerbaijani President Aliyev. A statement from the Azerbaijani presidential office said that Azerbaijan would begin exports of natural gas to Syria through Turkey, an important ally of both countries.