Rice Says US-Sponsored Mideast Conference Must Be 'Substantive'
20 September 2007
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says an upcoming Mideast peace conference must be "substantive" and advance the cause of Palestinian statehood.
Rice spoke Thursday after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. She said the Bush administration will work aggressively to ensure the success of the U.S.-sponsored peace conference, which is planned for November.
At a joint news conference with Rice, Mr. Abbas said the proposed conference should launch "serious negotiations" with Israel on establishing a Palestinian state.
Washington has not set a date or location for the conference and has not said who will be invited to attend.
Mr. Abbas' government wants the conference to produce an outline for a Mideast peace deal that includes a timetable for implementation. Israeli officials have said they are seeking a less-detailed declaration of principles.
Israel is promising not to provoke a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, after announcing its decision Wednesday to declare the Hamas-ruled territory an "enemy entity." That designation could clear the way for cuts in vital supplies to the impoverished Palestinian region.
Rice said the U.S. shares Israeli opposition to Hamas, but will not abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in June during fighting with the rival Fatah group of President Abbas. Mr. Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led Palestinian government and appointed a new administration based in the West Bank.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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