Geneva peace accord kicks off; peace plans with stages are designed to fail
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/2/2003

The signing ceremony of the unofficial peace plan "Geneva Agreement" has begun later on Monday with the presence of its chief architects former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian information Minister Yasser Abdrabbou.

The unveiling ceremony started with speeches delivered by the agreement's backers, including former US President Jimmy Carter, President Hosni Mubarak's Political Advisor Osama AI-Baz, former Polish President Lech Walesa and former South African President Nelson Mandela, who addressed the audience via video conference.

Swiss Foreign Minister Michelin Calmy-Rey said that she is proud of bringing the unofficial Geneva Accord to light.

She added that she highly appreciates the great confidence placed in Switzerland, which has become the birthplace of this peace plan.

She described the initiative as a classic example for the constructive efforts that can be played by NGOs, which seek to put the peace process back on track.

She further hoped that the Israeli government and the Palestinian authority would seize such a golden opportunity to achieve peace.

The Swiss top diplomat also said that the parties concerned should make some concessions, adding that Geneva Accord was "guiding light" for them.

For his part, former US President Jimmy Carter said that Geneva Accord is a cornerstone on the road to peace.

He said that some amendments might be made to the peace plan at some point in the future.

The Nobel Prize laureate further said that the main pending issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as the borders settlements and Jerusalem, are the bedrock to bring peace in the region. But he warned that the unofficial peace plan should steer clear of the loophole of gradual stages underlined in the Roadmap.

Carter further accused the administration of George Bush of supporting Israel while ignoring the Palestinian people, who come second on its agenda.

Former US President said that the extremists from both sides, the Israelis and the Palestinians, have sidelined any peace initiative.

Carter also said that the parties concerned should abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which call for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories.

But he said that Israel, in the meanwhile, should be recognized.

Israelis, he said, have nothing but one option: whether they want to live in peace with neighbouring countries or they want to keep on building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinians and Israelis Sign a Model Peace Accord   (12/1/2003)
  Arafat doubts Sharon's seriousness, Hamas renews rejection of the truce   (11/26/2003)
  Jerusalem Mufti bans Palestinian from association with the seperation wall   (11/26/2003)
  US National Council of the Churches deplores the Israeli separation wall   (11/13/2003)
  American writer says Bush should not be quite on Israeli practices against Palestinians   (10/28/2003)

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