By DPA
Washington : The United States has confirmed that it will host the Middle East peace conference Nov 27 in Annapolis, Maryland, with the goal of laying the groundwork for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
More than 40 countries and international organisations are invited to attend the conference, including Syria and Saudi Arabia, which do not recognise Israel, US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch announced at a press conference here late Tuesday.
Welch urged the world to back the initiative announced by President George W. Bush in July and the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. He called the conference a “launching pad” for talks leading toward a Palestinian state.
“This is the moment when they can change the picture and get the negotiations started,” Welch said.
The date for the conference had been widely reported, but the State Department waited until only days before the conference to announce the date, so that details could be worked out and invitations prepared.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been pressing the Israelis and Palestinians to produce a document agreeing to parameters for the Annapolis gathering. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remain at odds over how specific the document should be, with Olmert preferring a more general agenda.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said earlier Tuesday that progress was being made in negotiations ahead of the conference.
“We’re working through those issues, but the parties still continue to converge not only on the document but also on their understandings about what happens after Annapolis,” McCormack said.
Bush has sought to reinvigorate the US role in the peace process, but US officials have played down the prospect of any major breakthroughs, instead hoping to build a foundation for future negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Welch said that the United States was hopeful for as much international participation as possible.
“We are going to give the respect that is necessary for people to make their own decisions” about whether to attend, Welch said, but added: “We have given all the answers to the questions about the purpose and seriousness of this conference.”
Some Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Syria have been sceptical about the conference and its prospects for success, and it remained unclear whether they would accept the invitations. Syria has demanded that its dispute with Israel over the Golan Heights be included in the talks.
Welch said that while the focus of the conference is on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, there would be opportunities for other countries to raise issues connected to the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.
Welch said there would be meetings in the two days surrounding Tuesday’s conference.
Bush will meet separately with Olmert and Abbas on Monday. The three leaders will meet together the next day, on the sidelines of the conference.
On Nov 28, the day after the conference, Bush will again meet Olmert and Abbas separately, Welch said.
Countries and governments which are invited to attend the conference, besides Israel and Palestinian Authority include: Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The other invitees include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East Quartet’s special envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair, Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, EU Commission, EU High Representative Javier Solana and EU Presidency (Portuguese government).
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have also been invited to attend the conference as observers.