Egyptian - Israeli discussions

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa convened tonight with Israeli Knesset member Uri Savir, the director of the Peres Institute for Peace, who said following the meeting that "a frank discussion took place concerning the current status of the peace process and its future."

Savir added in answering the journalists' questions, "I do not think the chance is small for the peace on the Syrian track because the gaps are not that big, yet I think the priority must be on the Palestinian track."

He said this is the year to reach a historic agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis concerning the main issues.

Whether there were problems for the governmental coalition in Israel that affect the peace process, Savir said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was elected by the majority to achieve peace, and despite the problems confronting any coalition in Israel there are a many fronts in support of peace.