Damascus, May 21, SPA -- Syria confirmed today that it had started indirect peace negotiations with Israel under the auspices of Turkey. An official source at the Syrian foreign ministry said the negotiations aims at a comprehensive peace in line with Madrid peace conference. The official source highlighted the intensive efforts exerted by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and lauded the role of Turkey in this respect. It is worth mentioning that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad recently told Doha-based Al-Watan newspaper that the Turkish mediation continued from April 2007 up to April 2008. Al-Assad said 'we don't speak about direct negotiations but about a Turkish role and mediation for finding a common ground which will constitute a base for direct negotiations in the future'.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/557961