Middle East: Is a road map for peace in Syria in sight?

The Assad regime in Syria has been fighting insurgents for the last two years, but neither side seems strong enough to defeat the other. Now, the government and the opposition appear to want to negotiate. 

For a long time, talking to representatives of the Assad government was unthinkable for opponents. Ever since President Bashar Assad began his violent assault on his opponents, who took to the streets during what is now known as the Arab Spring, many have called for an end to his rule.

They hold him responsible for the civil war that has plunged the country into a deep crisis. Fights between government and opposition forces have led to more than 70,000 casualties so far, according to UN estimates. While the government has been obtaining arms from Russia and Iran, the opponents have been getting support from Qatar. This is one reason why neither side can prevail militarily.

Read more: Is a road map for peace in Syria in sight? | World | DW.DE | 18.02.2013

Fars News Agency :Ahmadinejad: Resumption of Iran-US Relations Possible

For the complete report from the Fars News Agency click on this link

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Wednesday said if Washington revises its attitude, resumption of ties between Iran and the US will be possible, stressing that his country seeks friendly and extensive ties with all the world nations, except for Israel.

Speaking during his first press conference in the new Iranian year (i.e. from March 21,2007 to March 20, 2008), the Iranian president said in response to a Fox News question about possibility of the resumption of ties between Iran and the US that these were the Americans themselves who cut relations with Iran. "They thought that if they cut the ties, our nation would have to go under much pressure, but this did not come true," he said, and continued, "With the present kind of attitude shown by the US, no world nation is willing to establish ties with the US."

Xinhua - Merkel: Europe to help with Israel-Palestinians peace talks

For the complete report in the Xinhua click on this link

Merkel: Europe to help with Israel-Palestinians peace talks

The visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Sunday that Europe will try to build a new burst of international efforts to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. In her first Middle East trip as the current rotating EU president, Merkel told Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni the Europeans are ready to offer support, but ultimately the sides must resolve their differences themselves, according to the news released from Israeli Government Press Office.

"The Europeans must not assume that they could force a solution. We can't and I don't want to do it," she said in her speech, adding "Within my abilities, I would like to support the sides to walk the path toward peace."

Al Jazeera: Norway ends Palestinian boycott

For the complete report from Al Jazeera click on this link

Norway ends Palestinian boycott

A one-year-old diplomatic boycott of the Palestinian government has been eased after a Norwegian diplomat met the Palestinian prime minister in Gaza. Western powers imposed an economic and diplomatic blockade in March 2006 in a bid to pressure the ruling Hamas group to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept interim peace deals.

But Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, restored full relations with the Palestinian Authority on Monday after Ismail Haniya's Hamas movement and Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction formed a unity government on Saturday. Raymond Johansen, Norway's deputy foreign minister, said: "We hope that all the European countries, and even other countries, will ... support this unity government.

Jerusalem Post: Israel's foreign ministry: "We don't threaten Europe"

For the complete report from the Jerusalem Post click on this link

Israel's foreign ministry: "We don't threaten Europe"

While it is not clear from reports who accused Israel of telling Europe to tow the line "or else," Israeli government officials were swift to deny any suggestion of such undiplomatic behavior. The denial of a threat came after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had warned EU foreign ministers last week that Israel would not be able to continue negotiating with "moderates" among the Palestinian Arabs if the west stopped insisting that these Arabs halt violence and recognize the Jewish state.

EU foreign policy czar Javier Solana messaged Livni that she could go "fly a kite" and, hours after her threat, announced his intention to call on Syria's supported Bashar el-Assad.