Palestinian-Israeli Peace Accord Possible in Fall: Norwegian FMNorwegian Foreign Minister Thorbjoern Jagland said on Thursday it is still possible for the Palestinians and Israel to reach a peace agreement later this year.Jagland said that from his recent meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, he is convinced that there is a possibility of reaching a peace accord based on compromises between the Palestinians and Israel. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Mubarak in Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the Norwegian foreign minister said the time is pressing but the two sides still have an opportunity to realize peace this autumn. The Palestinian-Israeli negotiations have been stalled since the failure of the Camp David summit in the United States last month over the issue of Jerusalem, which both sides claim as their capital. Referring to the issue of Palestinian refugees, Jagland said Norway is ready to contribute financial support for the solution to the problem. Jagland left Egypt later Thursday for Israel for a two-day visit as part of his Middle East tour for consultations on the peace process. Norway hosted the secret negotiations between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel that led to the breakthrough Oslo accords in September 1993. |
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