By NNN-KUNA
Paris : The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and prospects for restarting the peace process with Israel will dominate talks Wednesday between French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni, diplomats said here.
The two foreign ministers are to meet for a working lunch and then Livni will hold talks later in the day with President Nicolas Sarkozy, shortly after he meets with King Abdullah of Jordan, who will be in Paris.
The meetings with the Israeli minister will be notably devoted to "the situation in the Palestinian Territories and the necessary restarting of the peace process," the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
"We believe that the moment is opportune to move forward, take rapid, concrete and visible measures to reinforce moderate Palestinian forces and restart a political process of fundamental negotiations on the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," a French statement said.
It added that a "political horizon" must be given to the Palestinian and Israeli people who both aspire for peace and security.
The French and Israeli sides will also address the issue of Lebanon and other regional questions, in addition to discussing bilateral relations.
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