June 20, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429

NEW DELHI, June 19: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said here on Thursday he was encouraged by the ongoing India-Pakistan dialogue, which aimed to resolve bilateral disputes without foreign mediation.

Mr Assad, on a four-day rare tour of India, said that as a secular country, Syria shared the ideals with India and he had discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the problem of terrorism that posed a threat to both countries.

He was asked to comment on Syria’s support to OIC resolutions on Kashmir that were critical of India and its solidarity with New Delhi in bilateral talks. “Syria has never criticised India,” he replied after a round of consultations with aides.Mr Assad said he needed to see more progress in Turkey-mediated indirect peace talks with Israel before he agrees to a meeting with the Israeli prime minister.

There is speculation the two could meet on the sidelines of a summit of European and Mediterranean countries on July 13 in Paris. “This is not like drinking tea,” Mr Assad said when asked if he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Paris.

“The meeting between me and the Israeli prime minister will be meaningless without the technocrats laying the foundation, without reaching the final stage.”Israel and Syria concluded a second round of indirect peace talks on Monday and agreed to continue the negotiations over the fate of the Golan Heights in July.

India was an important player in the region and claimed good relations with the United States.

This could be a useful asset if it wished to play a greater role in the resolution of the Middle East conflicts.

Mr Assad defended Iran’s right to build peaceful nuclear reactors. He expressed his country’s willingness to play a part in the resolution of the Iraqi crisis. But, he said, for that to happen the United States was required to assume a more helpful approach than it had so far displayed.