Assad: Syrian-Israeli talks lack substance

DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad says the next round of Turkish-mediated negotiations with Israel will be "decisive" after little progress thus far.

The Istanbul negotiations have been postponed until next week, with details kept secret, the Haaretz news service reported Sunday.

"As of now, we have not reached anything tangible," Assad told reporters.

While Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he sees a possibility for direct negotiations in the near future, Assad expressed some skepticism about Israel's interest in peace.

"I can't say at all that we have confidence (in Israel)," he said.

Syria denies it is seeking offensive missile weaponry from Russia even as Assad recently held talks with Russian officials regarding an upgrade of his country's military.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly said Thursday that Russia was prepared to sell Syria "defensive weapons which are not breaking the regional balance of power."

U.S. Syria expert Joshua Landis wrote in his blog Syriacomment.com that "Syria's bad negotiating position is leading it to look for more weapons and to try to grow more teeth before returning to the table with Israel."