LOC22:39
19:39 GMT
WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday that
peace in the Middle East cannot be imposed while meeting with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas in the White House ahead of the Annapolis conference
tomorrow.
"We want there to be peace. We want the people in the Palestinian
Territories to have hope," said Bush in the Oval Office.
"The United States cannot impose our vision, but we can help facilitate,"
he added.
"We have a great deal of hope that this conference will produce permanent
status negotiations, expanded negotiations over all permanent status issues,
that would lead to a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the
Palestinian people," said Abbas in return.
Bush expressed his appreciations of Abbas efforts "to implement a vision
for a Palestinian state" and his willingness "to sit down with Israel to
negotiate this settlement" noting that that the United States wanted to help
in this regard. The Palestinian President described the Annapolis
conference as a "historic initiative."
"We will continue to rely on his support, and the support of the United
States and his administration, in order to achieve the intended objective,"
said Ababs about Bush. (end)
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