SYRIA READY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY: BASHAR AL-ASSAD

Tert.am
11:21 ~U 23.03.10

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on March 22 expressed his country’s
willingness to "play a role in building common ground for relations
between Armenia and Turkey," in light of Damascus’ good relationship
with both Ankara and Yerevan, according to Peoples Daily Online.

Al-Assad made the remarks in a joint press conference with visiting
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who began a three-day official
visit to Damascus on Monday.

The two leaders held talks on bilateral relations as well as the latest
developments of conditions in the Middle East and Caucasus regions.

President Assad described the visit of his Armenian counterpart
as a "milestone following my visit to Yerevan," in pushing forward
Syrian-Armenian relations.

Sargsyan, in turn, said that Armenia highly appreciates its relations
with Syria, describing the relations as "cordial and warm."

The Syrian president reiterated that it is necessary to overcome
all differences between Armenia and Turkey, resorting to dialogue as
to continue the process of confidence building, hailing Sargsyan’s
decision to develop relations with Turkey as "courageous, [and]
based on a far-sighted vision."

Al-Assad also affirmed Syria’s willingness to help build a "common
ground" to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations in the interest of
the region’s security and stability.

Referring to Armenia’s relations with Turkey, Sargsyan told reporters
that "the solution to conflicts and crisis could be through peace
talks and dialogues," noting that Armenia is working seriously for
peace in the South Caucasus region.