Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit will head for Washington Sunday 25/11/2007 on a visit to the US during which he will take part in the Annapolis ME peace conference to be held there on Monday and Tuesday.

The Annapolis conference is expected to be a starting point for activating serious negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in accordance with the terms of references of the peace process as adopted by Egypt and represented in the bases of the Madrid peace conference, the land for peace principle, the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the signed agreements by both sides and the Arab peace initiative, according to an official diplomatic source.

Egypt hopes and expects that the Annapolis conference would be immediately followed up by rounds of serious negotiations on the various fundamental issues mainly borders of the Palestinian state, Jerusalem and refugees, the diplomatic source said.

The Egyptian stance is expected to focus during the conference on a number of points mainly that all the aforementioned references should be included in any document to be issued by the conference.

He added that Egypt also believes that negotiations should continue according to a clear-cut timeframe that does not exceed few months and that there should be mechanisms to follow up the negotiation process and confidence-building measures such as halting settlement activities and the construction of the security barrier, releasing Palestinian prisoners and removing roadblocks.

Foreign Minister Abul-Gheit has welcomed the inclusion of the terms of reference of Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 which set the June 4, 1967 borders as a basis for negotiations on establishing a Palestinian state.

He said the Annapolis peace conference would be followed by intensive and serious negotiations to tackle the fundamental issues topped by the future Palestinian state's borders, refugees and Al-Quds or East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the Arab foreign ministers decided to accept the invitation to attend Annapolis conference which the United States will convene next Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Arab initiative committee at the conclusion of its meetings in Cairo yesterday 23/11/2007 said Arab participation in the Annapolis conference will be at the ministerial level in line with the international legitimacy, the roadmap and the Arab peace initiative. As Saudi Arabia confirmed its participation in the Annapolis conference, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said his country would make its participation conditional on inserting the issue of the Golan Heights as a basic item into the agenda of the conference