Annapolis (Maryland), USA: Peace may finally be on the cards for Israel and Palestine if all goes well at the West Asia Peace Conference at Annapolis in the US state of Maryland.
US President George W Bush, along with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, have agreed to begin talks immediately so that by the end of next year, a peace deal may be secured.
The trio is aiming at creating a state for Palestine.
However, all three leaders are politically weak in their own countries and have subsequently raised doubts on whether they can see their commitments home.
India, also present at the 49-nation summit has asked for more countries to support the peace dialogue which has plagued international politics for decades.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, who led the Indian delegation, applauded the efforts of Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for setting the stage for the bilateral talks which, he said, is crucial to successful negotiations.
"It has been repeatedly emphasized in the joint understanding that the negotiations will be bilateral between the parties. This is as it should be," Sibal said.
"No one realises better than the two parties themselves how difficult the road ahead will be. Even with the best of intentions, it will require unprecedented determination, goodwill and capacity to offer and accept compromises and concessions, on both sides, if the objective enshrined in this understanding is to be achieved," he said.
Reiterating India's support to the Palestinian cause, Sibal indicated full cooperation from India’s side in bringing about stability in the region.
With inputs from PTI
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