Switzerland has revealed that despite rumors to the contrary, informal peace negotiations between Syria and Israel did take place, with the help of Swiss mediators.
Swiss Foreign Minister and Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Ray made the comments late Monday that confirmed reports last week that back-channel negotiations had been held, according to Haaretz.
"Switzerland was the broker in the talks reported by the press," Calmy-Rey stated, adding that the Swiss mediator is currently in Syria. The Councilor added that she was to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Former Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom had also confirmed last week that he knew of the talks, while Yossi Beilin, chairman of the leftist Israeli Meretz party, revealed that that the European who mediated between the Israelis and Damascus was the head of the Middle East desk in the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Nicholas Lang.
Lang visited Jerusalem this passed weekend, later traveling to Damascus to meet senior government officials there, including Syrian Vice President Farouk Shara and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
