Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has reiterated his previous statements that Israel is in no way interested in attaining real peace.

Muallem's remarks came in response to latest comments made by Israeli president Shimon Peres, who called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to follow in the path of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and enter direct negotiations with Israel.

He drew the parallel that Peres' comment was like 'putting the cart before the horse', calling it a sign that Tel Aviv was uninterested in attaining real peace, Asharq al-Awasat reported Wednesday.

Muallem meanwhile maintained that it would be impossible to control the common border between Syria and Lebanon, saying that such a move would require its demarcation as well as a security agreement between the two countries.

Peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down in 2000 over the fate of the strategic Golan Heights plateau occupied by Israel for four decades. Damascus insists on Israeli withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967 line.

Ankara has however renewed mediation efforts in an attempt to conclude Syria-Israel conflict. Syria has thus far had four rounds of indirect negotiations with Israel in Istanbul.

MP/MMN