Syria's information minister on Sunday dismissed Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights as "worthless," saying peace between the two countries can't exist unless the Jewish state returns all territories captured during the Six-Day War, Haaretz reports.

"[The Golan Heights] will not remain under occupation," Mohsen Bilal told a seminar near the Israeli border, vowing to recapture the contentious area at "the core" of Syria's interests.

Earlier Sunday, Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu declared he is prepared to engage Damascus in peace negotiations without making "major concessions in advance."

"Any agreement will safeguard Israel's security interests... Solid security arrangements will help maintain a strong peace," he said, referring to the Golan's strategic importance.

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