Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan announced on Wednesday that his country remains optimistic regarding peace overtures between Damascus and Yerushalayim, stating Ankara will be hosting a fourth round of indirect talks in the near future.

Stating “both sides have the will for a political solution,” the senior Turkish official seems to opt to ignore recent statements from Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who called Olmert a “weak prime minister,” whose hand he would not shake while the two attended the Mediterranean Conference in Paris earlier in the week.

Nevertheless, Turkey remains optimistic and seems willing and perhaps eager to continue playing a mediation role.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)