Syrian minister urges Israel to keep the peace track

Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ali Khalil expressed his hope that the coming year will be a year for peace in Middle East, adding that peace is Syria's strategic choice and that this peace must be fair and comprehensive according to international legitimacy resolutions and the land-for-peace principle.

He also stated that Syria could not be an obstacle or put obstacles before the peace process in the Middle East, expressing his hope that the anticipated Israeli - Syrian negotiations in Washington will directly tackle issues of conflict, adding that the Lebanese file will not be far away from these negotiations.