Bush opens Annapolis conference

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 11-28-2007 08:59

President George W. Bush stands on stage with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Israel-Palestinian Peace Conference at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, November 27, 2007. (Jim Young/Reuters)

Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to immediately resume long-stalled peace talks with the goal of reaching a final accord by the end of 2008.

US President George W. Bush made the dramatic announcement at the opening of Tuesday's 44-nation Middle East peace conference.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Bush said the purpose of the conference is to encourage negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians with the ultimate goal of establishing a democratic Palestinian state that would live "side by side" with Israel in "peace and security."

George W. Bush, US President, said, "In light of recent developments, some have suggested that now is not the right time to pursue peace. I disagree. I believe now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations, for a number of reasons. First, the time is right because Palestinians and Israelis have leaders who are determined to achieve peace."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made an impassioned appeal to Israelis to support the peace process, saying war and terrorism belong to the past.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas listens during the opening session of the Mideast conference at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, said, "I say to the citizens of Israel, on this extraordinary day, you, our neighbors on this small land, neither us nor you are begging for peace from each other. It is a common interest for us and for you. Peace and freedom is a right to us, in as much as peace and security is a right for you and for us. The time has come for the cycle of blood, violence and occupation to come to an end."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel wants peace and wants an end to terror, incitement and hatred. He vows Israel will address all issues, which have been avoided in the past, in future negotiations with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert makes a statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Conference at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland , November 27, 2007. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister, said, "The negotiations between us will not be here in Annapolis, but rather in our home and yours. It will be bilateral, direct, ongoing and continuous, in an effort to complete it during the course of 2008. It will address all the issues which have so far been evaded. We will do it directly, openly and courageously. We will not avoid any subject, we will deal with all the core issues."

Under the work plan, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will begin their peace talks next month.

Abbas and Olmert will hold private talks twice a week throughout the process, which will be monitored by the US.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei