Progress Falters As Peace Talks Begin

EXPECTATIONS of the outcome of todays Middle East Peace talks remained low, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice foreshadowing that even the framework for the negotiations might not be set until the talks actually begin.

The talks in Annapolis, Maryland, are the latest efforts by President George Bush to carve out a comprehensive peace plan before the end of his term in office in January 2009.

"The broad attendance at this conference by regional states and other key international participants demonstrates the international resolve to seize this important opportunity to advance freedom and peace in the Middle East," President Bush said before the conference was due to start.

"I remain personally committed to implementing my vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."

But so far the progress on the Annapolis meeting has been faltering, with no agreement on the framework just 48 hours before they were due to start.

Adding to the low-key mood, Mr Bushs national security adviser said that the president would not adopt an activist role in the negotiations, even though many observers believed Washington must step up its direct involvement if the effort was to succeed.

Stephen Hadley said Mr Bush believed the US role should be to aid and encourage Israelis and Palestinians, but not try to "lean on one side or another and jam a settlement through".

"History has suggested that those efforts to jam have not worked," Mr Hadley said in a conference call with reporters.

"We have said from the beginning — the president has said — that it is the parties themselves who have to make the peace."

The presidents position is likely to reassure the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which is politically weak at home and fearful that tough concessions could bring about its collapse.

But it will almost surely disappoint the delegation headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, which had hoped American pressure could open the way for Israeli concessions.

Many Arab and European diplomats said they believed Dr Rice personally wanted to make progress towards Middle East peace, but they feared Mr Bush did not fully share her views, and had at times limited her role.

Palestinian negotiators Ahmed Qureia and Saeb Erekat met with Dr Rice and Tzipi Livni, Israels lead negotiator, for unscheduled talks on Sunday evening in Washington.

The negotiators were still trying to write a framework for talks that the US hosts had hoped would be complete by now.

Dr Rices spokesman Sean McCormack said the last-minute work was not surprising.

"Were confident there will be a document and well get to Annapolis in good shape on that," but bargaining might well continue behind the scenes during todays session, Mr McCormack said in an interview.

With LOS ANGELES TIMES

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