Djrjian: Meeting at James Baker Institute was academic

In a report broadcast by the Israeli radio, Israel said that an Israeli - Syrian meeting held at the James Baker Institute for Public Policy was an important step forward towards resuming Syrian-Israeli negotiations and eliminating obstacles impeding these negotiations.

Former US ambassador to Israel Edward Djrjian, who was also former US ambassador in Damascus said the meeting was academic aimed at discussing means to resume the peace process between Syria and Israel. He denied reports that the meeting was intended to make secret negotiations between Syria and Israel.

The Israeli radio added that Syria's ambassador in Washington, Walid al-Mu'allim, delivered a speech under the title "Why Israel Escapes Peace" and then replied to questions addressed to him by the audiences and left the hall. Al-Mu'allim denied having spoken with the Israeli representatives, or even shaken hands with them.

Despite that, the Israelis said they considered the meeting very important under the prevailing stalemate on the Syrian - Israeli negotiation tracks.