Solana sees "opportunity" for relaunching peace process (Roundup)

Jan 21, 2007, 14:30 GMT

Amman - European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said Sunday the time was opportune for relaunching peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, thanks to the existence of 'political will' on the part of all players he met recently.

Judging by 'the talks I have had with different actors in the United States and in the region, I think the political will is there for moving the peace process', Solana told a press conference before leaving for Israel on the last leg of a regional tour.

Solana Sunday met with King Abdullah on the prospects of pushing ahead the peace negotiations. He earlier visited Egypt and the Palestinian territories.

According to a royal court statement, King Abdullah 'underscored the importance of the EU upgrading its role in efforts aimed at reinvigorating the peace process and ensuring the availability of appropriate circumstances for resuming negotiations.'

Abdullah also urged a 'reactivation of the Quartet's role in the forthcoming stage with a view to working out peace that will be based on UN resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and the setting up of an independent Palestinian state' that lives with peace with Israel, the statement said.

Solana said that with the availability of political will, 'the approach' to the Middle East conflict should now be changed from 'a mood of crisis management to a kind of solution.'

He expressed hope that a meeting to be held by the Middle East Quartet in New York on February 2 would be crucial in terms efforts aimed at pushing the peace negotiations forward between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Asked about a planned meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Khalid Mashaal in Damascus, Solana said the EU would continue to 'respect what President Abbas decides to do.'

Solana indicated that the EU and regional governments supported a 'final status solution' between Israel and the Palestinians, who rejected recently a proposal by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for setting up a Palestinian state with interim borders.

Solana said that he planned 'to sound out' Israeli leaders on this issue when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later Sunday.