Syrian delegation arrives for Annapolis conference

Annapolis: A Syrian delegation has arrived in Annapolis, Maryland to attend the US-hosted Middle East peace conference, a Syrian diplomat said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Al Mekdad leads a three-man Syrian team to push Syria's aim of regaining the occupied Golan Heights.

"We participate with the understanding that the Golan will be discussed. Syria continues to be committed to the Arab peace initiative as the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East," Ahmad Salkini said on Monday.

Syria's ambassador in Washington Imad Moustapha and an aide will also participate in the summit on Tuesday, which aims to restart talks on Palestinian statehood.

The one-day meeting will be attended by representatives from more than 40 countries, many driven by a desire to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear super power.

The agenda includes a session about reviving Syrian-Israeli peace talks, which collapsed in 2000 over the Golan Heights, a plateau near Damascus occupied by Israel since 1967.

The Arab peace proposal centres on normal ties with Israel in return for an Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territory occupied four decades ago, including the Golan.