Ross to head to the region next week

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher reported June 15 that the Israeli-Palestinian talks will continue for a few more days in Washington and the negotiators will then return home to consult with their leaders, a US statement said.

Boucher said Special Middle East Coordinator Dennis Ross will go to the Middle East next week and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will go in about ten days "to determine whether a summit is useful at that point or whether we need to continue the discussions that have been ongoing."

"The status of the summit itself is exactly where the President put it yesterday; we're prepared to do it when it's properly prepared, when we think the issues are ready," Boucher said.

The negotiators are discussing all of the issues, permanent status as well as interim, "in order to find areas of commonality, as well as to define the differences and clarify the differences," Boucher said.