Jack Straw in Middle East for talks

Straw in Middle East for talks

The Foreign Secretary has met Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Perez followed by talks with President Yasser Arafat.

Mr Straw said that the UK and the international community were 'ready to act to help to get the parties back on the road to peace'.

Palestinian Authority

Following talks in Ramallah on the current situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw and President Yasser Arafat held a joint press conference.

Mr Staw emphasised that there is an 'urgent need to stop the violence and get back to the negotiating table' and that the 'only way out of this conflict is by negotiation and by peace'.

He said that he and Mr Arafat had discussed 'further steps' that should be taken by The Palestinian Authority 'to deal with the extremists', who undermine the peace process. Mr Straw stressed that the UK and the international community are 'ready to act to help to get the parties back on the road to peace'.

Israel

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw gave a joint press conference on 13 February with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Perez, in Jerusalem.

Mr Straw said: 'We recognise the overwhelming need for peace in the whole of this region' and 'the prospects for a better future for the people of Israel and the people of the Occupied Territories'.

He said the UK position was clear, for 'Israel to live within secure borders with peace and security... not just to be tolerated by the rest of the region, but to be acknowledged and to be accepted by the rest of the region', and 'alongside that for there to be a viable State of Palestine'.

ENDS

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