U.S. voices tepid support for Israel-Syria talks

By Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States voiced tepid support on Wednesday for indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, a stance that analysts said reflected U.S. doubts about the chances of success.

U.S. officials said they would welcome a peace agreement between the two countries, which have been technically at war since Israel declared independence 60 years ago. But they made clear their focus would be on the Israeli-Palestinian track.

Israel and Syria said they had launched indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials in Istanbul, the first confirmation of negotiations between the longtime enemies in eight years after a U.S.-backed effort collapsed in 2000.

The White House said it had no objections to the initiative -- in which U.S. officials are not involved but have been kept informed -- and stressed its concerns about Syria's suspected support for terrorism abroad and its repression at home.

U.S. President George W. Bush has said he hopes to help the Israelis and Palestinians reach some form of peace agreement by the end of the year despite deep skepticism among Israelis, Palestinians and independent analysts that this is possible.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought to tamp down the view the United States was not enthusiastic about the Israeli-Syrian talks but she stressed she viewed talks with the Palestinians as "the most mature track."

"We would welcome any steps that might lead to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East," Rice said at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

"We are going to work very hard on the Palestinian-Israeli front. We hope for the best on the Israeli-Syrian side and we do believe that there is work to be done vis-a-vis the outstanding issues with Lebanon, as well," she added.