Israeli FM: Settlements not obstacle to peace

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Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman has told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that settlement building in the West Bank is not an obstacle to peace.

The two met at the UN headquarters in New York, discussing issues related to Iran, nuclear proliferation and peace in the Middle East. Liberman says Israel is ready for direct talks with the Palestinians.

He also reiterated Israel's position that "completely" freezing settlements in the West Bank was not acceptable and the issue of settlements was an excuse for those who tried to avoid any peace talks.

Liberman's trip to the United States is his first official visit to the country.

Avigdor Liberman, Israeli Foreign Minister, said, "I think and I say again settlements are not an obstacle to achieve peace. We know that even before' 67, before we even established one settlement, the situation was the same."

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman has told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that settlement building in the West Bank is not an obstacle to peace.(CCTV.com)