Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said here Monday that his country is willing to play a role in pushing forward peace process between Israel and Syria.
Kouchner made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem following talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
It was good that Syria and Israel were conducting indirect peace talks through a Turkish mediation, Kouchner said.
The French top diplomat said he discussed with Assad various files, particularly bilateral relations, the peace process in the region, developments in Lebanon and Iran's nuclear issue.
He added that his visit aimed at preparing for a scheduled visit by French President Nicholas Sarkozy due early next month.
On the Lebanese file, Kouchner said he had expressed concerns to President Assad about the conflicts in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, where dozens of people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes.
He also expressed happiness that Syria and Lebanon would exchange ambassadors before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Muallem hailed Kouchner's visit as "fruitful and constructive," saying he was glad that ties between Syria and France were "returning to normal."
On the Israeli-Syrian peace talks, Muallem said it is not time to go into direct talks with the Jewish state, "but we feel that both parties are serious in resolving the outstanding issues."
Kouchner, who just wrapped up a visit to neighboring Lebanon, is the first senior French official to visit Syria in three years due to strained relations between the two countries following the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri in 2005. Damascus was accused of being involved in the killing, but it denied any role.
His visit came after Syria and Lebanon announced earlier this month that they would establish diplomatic ties and demarcate their border during a visit here by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
It also came one day following Syria appointed Lamia Shakkour as its ambassador to France on Sunday, a post that was vacant for two years also because of the tense ties between Syria and France.
France froze high-level official contacts with Syria shortly after the killing of Hariri, which also led international pressure against Syria and efforts for the creation of a UN investigation and a UN-backed tribunal on suspects of the Hariri case.
France shifted its policy towards Damascus after rival Lebanese parties reached in May an agreement to elect Michel Suleiman as president, ending a long-lasting political crisis. Damascus was deemed to have played a constructive role in reaching the pact.
Source:Xinhua
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