By Jonathan Saul
SignOnSanDiego.com REUTERS 6:33 a.m. February 15, 2007
ANKARA – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey would send a team of experts to Jerusalem to survey archaeological work near the al-Aqsa mosque which has triggered protests across the Muslim world.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking at the same news conference during a visit to Ankara, said he welcomed the decision, saying: 'We have nothing to hide.'
'The work which is being conducted is being done outside the Temple Mount area. We are very happy to host the prime minister's team and therefore the right and correct and exact story will come out,' Olmert said.
Israel insists the dig poses no threat to sites revered by Muslims. Olmert said he had shown Erdogan photographs of the area, but the Turkish leader said he did not know the area and so was not completely convinced by Olmert's assurances.
Muslim but secular Turkey is one of the few countries in the region to enjoy good ties with both Israel and the Palestinians as well as with Israel's foes Iran and Syria. Ankara is keen to play a more active diplomatic role in the region.
'As a modern Muslim country Turkey can play a role building ties between Israel and Muslim countries that do not have relations with Israel,' Olmert said.
Olmert also reaffirmed his offer of peace to Syria as long as Damascus stopped supporting terror groups.
'We want to make peace with Syria, we are happy to make peace with Syria, but Syria has not stopped supporting the path of terror and instead needs to accept the principles that the international community has set,' Olmert said.
'I have no doubt that under such conditions it will be very easy to speak with Syria.'
Ankara has offered to mediate in fresh talks between Syria and Israel and the issue was again discussed on Thursday.
Talks between Israel and Syria over the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war, collapsed in 2000 after Damascus insisted on regaining control of all the strategic piece of land.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly signalled an interest in talks since Israel's inconclusive war last year in Lebanon with Syrian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas.
The situation has been complicated by U.S. charges that Syria supports Iraqi insurgents, which Damascus denies, as well as Syria's open sponsorship of Palestinian militants.
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