"Egypt will play its role in helping the Palestinians and Israelis overcome obstacles facing the peace process;" Egyptian Foreign Minister told the US-sponsored peace conference on Tuesday 27/11/2007.

Peace which the Arab world aspires for and which Egypt took the initial step to achieve should be fair and balanced, he said.

Abul-Gheit said peace also should be based on mutual obligations between the two sides; security for security and land for peace.

Such peace could last, be further consolidated, he said.

The Egyptian top diplomat warned of ignoring the devastating impact of the continued Arab-Israeli conflict on peace, security and stability, not only of the Middle East, but also of the world.

Abul-Gheit went on, saying the peace issue cannot be put off any longer.

Foreign Minister Abul-Gheit will accentuate during the conference the necessity of achieving overall and just peace and the importance of reviving peace efforts on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, in order for Arab states to be able to restore their occupied lands.

Speaking to representatives from 40 countries, including 16 Arab states, Abul-Gheit said the Middle East peace process includes two more important tracks, namely the Syrian and Lebanese, which should be revived as soon as possible and with the same earnestness.

Negotiations that could result in restoring the lands of both countries might prepare the ground for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, he added.

"Egypt will judge the Annapolis meeting according to the results it will reach," Ambassador Suleiman Awwad, the Presidential spokesman said .

Ambassador Awwad added that Egypt is taking part in the conference out of its keenness on taking part in any forum that addresses the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli peace, tackles the suffering of the Palestinians and achieves the dream of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem assuring as its capital.

28/11/2007