Israeli FM Wishes Arab Nations Joining Mideast Peace Conference

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 30, 2002

Israeli FM Wishes Arab Nations Joining Mideast Peace Conference

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said in Paris Monday that Israel backs the organization of an international conference on the Middle East crisis with a wide participation of Arab nations.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said in Paris Monday that Israel backs the organization of an international conference on the Middle East crisis with a wide participation of Arab nations.

Israel, Palestine, the quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States), and other Arab nations (notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan) could join the conference, said Peres after meeting with his French counterpart Dominique de Villepin.

Peres was the first of Israeli ministers to express such a position, which he said represents the position of the Israeli government.

He also said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in fact "the first" to have launched the initiative of such a conference.

"If, for example, the Moroccans wish to participate (in the international conference), it would be a pleasure," said Peres, adding that the participation of other Arab nations is not excluded either.

Earlier on Monday after meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, Peres said Israel agrees that an international conference be organized rapidly to help resolve the crisis between the Jewishstate and the Palestinians.

"President Chirac said France was for having an international conference as soon as possible and asked for our position," Peres told reporters.

"And I said we too support the establishment of a conference, international or regional, to encourage the peace process," he said.

"We intend to continue to talk with the Palestinians and try tocreate a climate of hope," he said.

The organization of such a conference at ministerial level "constitutes the best way to go forward (with the peace efforts)," he said.

"A consensus exists in the international community as it concerns the targeted objective, which is the creation of a Palestinian State capable of living in peace and security side by side with Israel," he added.

The Israeli foreign minister also told reporters that he considered "an error" the air raid on Gaza on July 22, which killed 14 Palestinians, mostly children.

"I wish that they (the Palestinians) know it involves an error and not a sign of change of policy," he said.

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