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Friday, January 2, 2009

Syria, Turkey warn against "dangerous repercussions" of Israeli aggression on Gaza

Syria and Turkey warned on Wednesday against the "dangerous repercussions" of the continued Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip to the security and stability in the region, the official SANA news agency reported.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the warning during a meeting here in Damascus, in which they discussed "the massacre" perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza and means to stop the Palestinian bloodshed, lift the siege and open crossing points.

Assad and Erdogan considered that "the Israeli aggression on Gaza has blown up all efforts exerted to realize peace in the region," adding that "it's impossible to talk about any peace in light of the Israeli stubbornness."

They urged the Arab countries to assume their responsibilities in a way that guarantees the deliver of all life and medical needs to the people in Gaza, particularly the victims of the Israeli crimes.

They "underlined the necessity of the Arab and Islamic countries to move and compel Israel to immediately halt the ongoing holocaust against unarmed Palestinians," said the report.

The two sides also underlined the necessity to continue cooperation and coordination between both countries to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and deliver aid to the besieged families in Gaza.

They also expressed appreciation of the Arab, Islamic and world popular move to support the Gaza people and put an end to the Israeli "flagrant aggression."

The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was under intensive Israeli air strikes for the fifth successive day on Wednesday.

Since last Saturday, massive air raids on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has killed some 400 Palestinians and injured 2,000 others.

On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey officially ended efforts to organize peace talks between Israel and Syria amid Israeli offensive on the strip.

A senior Syrian official reportedly said on Sunday that Syria has suspended indirect peace talks with Israel in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza.

In May, Syria and Israel, technically still at war since the first Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948, began indirect talks via Turkey after direct negotiations halted eight years ago over the thorny Golan Heights issue.

Following four rounds of negotiations, the process has been on hold since Olmert announced in July he would step down over corruption allegations.

Syria is the first leg of Erdogan's Mideast four-nation tour. Before his visit, he told reporters that Turkey is deeply concerned over the developments in Gaza since this ruthless operation began on Saturday and the objective of his tour is "to help stop these dangerous developments."

He will visit Jordan after leaving Syria, and is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah II and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Erdogan then will head for Egyptian's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to hold talks with President Hosni Mubarak.

He will also visit Saudi Arabia to discuss the current developments in the region with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz.

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