Report: Mitchell to visit Middle East without a peace plan (Roundup)

Jan 16, 2010, 12:28 GMT

Jerusalem/Damascus - US Middle East envoy George Mitchell would arrive in the region without a specific peace plan or timetable for the renewal of peace talks, the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday.

Mitchell is expected to arrive in the region this week for peace talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Syrian officials. Media reports said last week that Washington was drafting two letters of guarantee that Mitchell would present to the Palestinians and Israelis.

According to French sources quoted in the Asharq al-Awsat report however, Mitchell would arrive without the letters for the two sides.

The sources as said that during a series of meetings in Paris and Brussels, Mitchell did not reveal any new US plans for peace or an agenda that might help relaunch the negotiations.

During his visit to Damascus, Mitchell is expected to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss developments in the peace process as well as bilateral relations and other regional issues.

The visit would be Mitchell's third to Damascus since he was appointed as US President Barack Obama's envoy to activate the peace process, focusing especially on Syria and the Palestinians.

After a recent meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Mitchell reaffirmed Washington's support for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis.

Both Mitchell and Kouchner however refused to comment on the present state of peace negotiations in the region.