Jerusalem Post
07-14-1999
On the heels of yesterday's late-night meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II, and moments before setting off for Washington, Prime Minister Ehud Barak is to meet today with one more regional leader: Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.
The two, who last met in 1996 - since which time the governments in both countries have changed - are expected to discuss bilateral economic issues, regional matters, and to reaffirm the special relationship between their countries.
European Union special envoy for the Middle East Miguel Moratinos said yesterday that Syria hopes peace talks with Israel will restart soon.
"The Syrian foreign minister hopes the peace process would be resumed in the nearest opportunity, as he sees the Israeli statements are encouraging for that," Moratinos told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Farouk Shara.
Moratinos, who arrived in Damascus for a two-day official visit on Monday, said he is optimistic about the current atmosphere of the peace process.
Turkish Ambassador Barlas Ozener stressed yesterday that any portrayal of Turkey as an impediment to the resumption of talks between Israel and Syria has no basis.
"Relations between Israel and Turkey were never intended as an anti-Syria bloc," said Ozener, adding that, in any case, relations between Turkey and Syria have been improving in recent months.
"Israel wants a regional peace, and it is clear that without Syria no regional peace will take hold," said Ozener. "It would be laughable for Turkey to come forward and say to Israel 'stop your movement towards Syria.' This would only cost Turkey credibility."
Ozener said that, "like it or not, Turkey realizes Israel is planning to move closer to Syria."
Despite the official stand, the Turkish press in recent weeks has been speculating that the renewed movement toward forging relations with Syria will necessarily come at Turkey's expense.
Syria's spirit, it seems, hovers over all of Israel's talks these days. It was expected, for example, to be very present at the meeting between Abdullah and Barak in Akaba, which was still in progress at midnight.
President Ezer Weizman yesterday noted that the Syrians appear to be taking a more positive attitude toward Israel since Barak became premier. "There are indications that Syria is willing to change its tone," he told reporters while visiting wounded soldiers at Haifa's Rambam Hospital.
Weizman spoke as Syrian President Hafez Assad was reported to have agreed in principle to return the remains of Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy executed in Syria in 1965.
Cohen's brother, Maurice, asked Assad last month to return his brother's body, the American Friends of Eli Cohen said in a letter sent to Barak. Maurice Cohen delivered the message through British journalist and Assad biographer Patrick Seale, who visited Israel before meeting with Assad, the letter said.
The letter, dated July 11, quoted Syrian sources as saying Assad received the message and in principle agreed to release the remains.
Barak's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Cohen penetrated the upper echelons of the Syrian government before being caught and hanged in Damascus for espionage. Cohen's information on troop and tank deployments in the Golan Heights are credited with being essential to Israel's victory on the Syrian front in the Six Day War.
"Returning Eli's body would be an important confidence-building motion on the part of the Syrians," Eli's youngest brother, Avraham Cohen, told The Jerusalem Post last night. "We are all hoping it will come about."
He pointed to Internet reports - on a site known as Arabia.com - that the remains might have been buried in concrete following an attempt to steal Eli's body shortly after he was executed.
Avraham Cohen said he feels sure the Syrians would nevertheless make efforts to produce the remains, as this is an important bargaining card for them. He added that he had called Barak's chief of staff, Danny Yatom, on Monday to ask that the issue be raised at the Clinton-Barak meeting.
Regarding the talks last night in Jordan, sources in Barak's office said yesterday the prime minister would, first and foremost, be interested in hearing a briefing from Abdul-Karim Kabariti, chief of Jordan's royal court, who held meetings with senior officials in Damascus on Monday.
Abdullah seems keen to assert himself and build up his position in the region, and does not want to be shut out of any future regional peace negotiation. Jordan's desire to serve as some sort of bridge between Israel and Syria in this case is apparently matched by Israel's willingness to work with the Jordanians.
While most of the meeting between Barak and Abdullah was to take place privately, Barak was accompanied to Akaba by policy adviser Tzvi Stauber, Mossad chief Efraim Halevi, and several other outside advisers. Foreign Minister David Levy did not join the trip, not will he join today's trip to the US.
The Foreign Ministry suggested that Barak try to quiet some of the Turkish fears about the burgeoning efforts to renew talks with Syria by giving an interview to the Turkish reporters traveling with Demirel. Barak's office said that, due to his tight traveling schedule, this is not possible. Levy is scheduled to speak to the Turkish press instead.
Barak and Demirel are not expected to discuss defense cooperation in any detail, as Demirel's entourage does not include anyone authorized to discuss military matters. The matter of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan's capture and trial is also not expected to come up.
Copyright 1999 Jerusalem Post. All Rights Reserved
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