Reaction to Israel and Syria holding indirect peace talks

Описание: (21 May 2008) SHOTLIST

Golan Heights
1. Golan Heights with people walking
2. Various of sign at Golan Heights showing the way to points of interest
3. Citizens standing at Golan Heights pan to area
4. View of Syrian city as seen from Golan Heights
5. Tracking shot of houses
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Roi (no other name), Golan Heights resident:
"The Syrians are supported by Iran, and (they) support Hezbollah, and support Hamas in Lebanon (NOTE, MEANS HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, HAMAS IN GAZA) . When they want to show us good will, when they finish support for Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. Maybe (there) will be peace. (We) can be together but you can't make talk with peace in one hand and on the other hand support the organisations of the terror. It's what I believe and I don't believe in peace right now."
7. Sign reading (Hebrew, Arabic, English) "Danger Mines!"
8. Horses at Golan Heights
9. People touring old military bunkers pan to men looking at view
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, no name given:
"Let us live in our one country in peace. Peace means strong, to be strong and not give nothing from Eretz Israel or the land of Israel and (even) more we have to take back all our lands that are still in Syria."
11. Wide of Israeli houses on Golan Heights
12. Horse pull in to sign reading (Hebrew, Arabic, English) "Danger Mines!"

Tel Aviv
13. Israeli President Shimon Peres walking
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:
"These are preliminary contacts, and I think every contact that leads to the direction of peace should be welcomed, yet the value of it is still too early to judge. It's the beginning, we have to see how its going to be developed and will proceed in the future."

Jerusalem
15. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator:
"We welcome the revival of the Syrian Israeli track. We will not allow anyone to play a track, a Palestinian track against the Syrian track. We will not accept anyone to export fear to us. As president Abbas said so many times we want a comprehensive peace in the region, and comprehensive peace means peace with Syria, peace with Palestinians, peace with Egyptians, Jordanians, and all Arabs."
17. Erekat leaving


STORYLINE:

Israel and Syria on Wednesday said they are holding indirect peace talks through Turkish mediators, the first official confirmation of contacts between the long-time enemies.

In statements issued minutes apart, the two governments said they "have declared their intent to conduct these talks in good faith and with an open mind," with a goal of reaching "a comprehensive peace."

Both nations thanked Turkey for its help, and Turkey issued its own confirmation.

There have been media reports and broad hints from Israeli officials in recent months of new Israeli-Syrian contacts through Turkey, and Turkey's foreign minister said earlier this month that his country was trying to bring the sides together.

But this was the first official confirmation that contacts have actually resumed.

Israeli President Shimon Peres described indirect peace talks as "preliminary contacts."

"I think every contact that leads to the direction of peace should be welcomed, yet the value of it is still too early to judge. It's the beginning, we have to see how its going to be developed and will proceed in the future," he said.

An Israeli government official said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's chief of staff and diplomatic adviser have been in Turkey since Monday.


The nations have fought three wars, and their forces have also clashed in Lebanon.







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