DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Ghul visited Syria Tuesday in an attempt to win its support for the deployment of an international force in south Lebanon.
Speaking after talks with President Bashar Assad, his deputy Farouk Sharaa and Foreign Minister Waleed Muallem, Ghul told reporters Damascus welcomed the idea of a possible Turkish participation in the U.N. peacekeeping force to assist the Lebanese army in extending legitimate control over the south and along the border with Israel.
"My talks were fruitful, useful and very positive. We have discussed developments in the past month (in Lebanon) and reviewed how peace and stability could be achieved in the region," Ghul told reporters.
He said he listened to the Syrian viewpoint regarding the international peace force expected to deploy in south Lebanon, stressing that Turkey is still considering contribution of troops which Syria has welcomed.
Ghul also emphasized that a real chance for reactivating the peace process in the region has emerged following the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
"We believe that after every tragedy there is a chance to achieve peace and that every party should have learned a lesson from the last events in the region," he added.
On their part, the Syrians underscored the need to resolve all conflicts between Arabs and Israel as a precondition for permanent peace in the region.
The official Syrian News Agency, SANA, reported that "Turkish and Syrian visions concurred on the need to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East that will bring about real security and stability."
It said Sharaa reaffirmed the need to achieve a cease-fire in Lebanon and ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops behind the Blue Line, but stressed that Lebanese national consensus, notably Hezbollah's conditions, should be taken into consideration when defining the mission and powers of U.N. forces.
