Barak: al-Assad is the only partner who takes peace decisions in Syria

On the eve of convening the US, Palestinian and Israeli summit in Oslo to give a new impetus to the final status negotiations for the Palestinian territories, the Syrian - Israeli track has witnessed a "verbal move," and Washington stressed that there is no crisis on this track and that efforts have been intensified to re-launch negotiations between its two sides.

In an interview to be published by the magazine US Newsweek today, Barak said, "There is an urgent need and a golden opportunity to achieve peace between us and Syria, to put an end to the conflict in Lebanon."

He added, "It's time for action, not for Talmudic disputes about formulas regarding how we should enter the negotiating room. Our task is to accomplish 'the peace of the brave.'"

Barak once again praised Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and described him as "the only partner, the only man who can make decisions about peace in Syria. I believe he is a strong, reliable, responsible and impressive leader."