Syria Shops For Military Ware In Moscow , Israel Confirms Peace Talks With Syria Underway

Israel confirmed Wednesday that peace talks with Syria are currently underway via a third party. A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Israel and Syria have began peace talks, mediated by a third-party – Turkey. "Both sides have declared their intent to conduct the talks without prejudice in order to conduct a full, comprehensive dialogue; and reach a comprehensive peace agreement according to the framework set at the Madrid Summit," said a statement by the PMO. The dramatic confirmation of peace talks, came as a delegation of Syrian military officials met in Moscow with Russian defense officials to discuss prospects for bilateral military and technical cooperation with Russia. During the five-day visit, the military delegation led by Syrian Air Force and Air Defense Commander Gen. Akhmad Al Ratyb will meet with Russian Defense Ministry and Air Force officials, visit several military units and defense industry plants, Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky said. Russia's Kommersant newspaper earlier wrote that Moscow and Damascus had agreed on deliveries of the latest Russian MiG-29SMT fighter. Syria also bought 36 Pantsir S1E air-defense systems from Russia, and hopes to receive Strelets short-range air defense systems, Iskander tactical missile systems, Yak-130 aircraft, and two Amur-1650 submarines. Israel and the U.S. are sensitive about Russian-Syrian military and technical cooperation, fearing not only a reinforcement of Syria's Armed Forces, but also the possibility that modern weapons could fall into the hands of Hizbullah and Iran, in violation of the existing international embargo. In a recent interview outgoing IAF chief Maj.Gen. Eliezer Shkedy said Syria received some SA-22 missiles from Russia and described Syria's air defense array as undoubtedly one of the most dense out there. Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev has pledged to maintain the top-priority modernization of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces designed to be able to swamp America's ballistic missile defense systems.05/21/08