Damascus  - Direct talks between Israel and Syria are a possibility, says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Monday, provided that ongoing indirect talks yield fruit.

"The peace process is similar to a process of a building, it has to be based first on solid foundations," said al-Assad, referring to the indirect peace talks with Israel. "If the indirect talks are successful they will lead to direct talks as a second stage. Afterwards peace will come naturally," al-Assad added.

Al-Assad was speaking in a press conference with his Croatian counterpart President Stjepan Mesic.

Over the last couple of months, Turkey has been acting as a mediator for indirect talks between the two countries. After four rounds of indirect talks between, a fifth round was halted in September due to corruption allegations against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The two countries have been at war since 1948. Israel captured the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967 during the Arab-Israeli war. (dpa)