A visiting European Union (EU) envoy said Monday that Syria has expressed readiness to resume peace talks with Israel without preconditions.

"The president told me he is ready to resume peace negotiations with Israel without preconditions," EU envoy Marc Otte told the press after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara.

"I hope that the parties will find the way to reconnect," said Otte, who arrived here on Sunday for a three-day visit.

Talks between Syria and Israel foundered in 2000 over the fate of the strategic Golan Heights, occupied by the Jewish state in 1967.

Assad has made several overtures to renegotiate with Israel in recent months, but only got a cold shoulder.

Otte's visit came before the opening of a Mideast peace summit which will be attended by leaders of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday. Damascus was not invited.

Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Assad and Otte discussedthe peace process in the region, particularly the latest developments in Palestine and Iraq.

Assad underlined during the talks the necessity to develop the Syrian-European dialogue.

Otte described the meeting as very fruitful and constructive, praising Syria's efforts for the peace process and stability in theregion.

Source: Xinhua