Israelis to develop ties with RI

Israelis to develop ties with RI

NEW DELHI (Reuter): Israeli Finance Minister Abraham Shohat,
winding up a major tour of Asian countries, said on Friday that
he expected formal ties between Israel and Indonesia and Malaysia
soon.

He linked relations with the two Islamic members of the
Association of South East Asian Nations with the progress of
peace talks with Syria, which he expected to yield positive
results soon.

"I am sure if you move ahead with the peace process, and we
are moving ahead with the peace process, very soon we shall have
connections with Malaysia and Indonesia," Shohat told Reuters in
the Indian capital.

"I believe Syria has strategically decided about making peace
with Israel," Shohat said. "The question is the process. How long
it will take? What will be the obstacles in the way of
negotiations? But I believe that at the end of the day there will
be a peace agreement between Syria and Israel."

Shohat said he expected business relations with the Arab
neighbors also to flourish with the progress of peace in the
Middle East.

The Israeli minister was speaking on the last leg of an Asian
tour which took him to South Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam and
Thailand.