Sharm al-Sheikh summit starts today

A quartet summit starts today in the Egyptian city of Sharm al-Sheikh on the Red Sea, during which it is expected to announce results of the resumption of Palestinian- Israeli peace negotiations in order to implement the Roadmap plan to peace.

In addition to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, the summit will be attended by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Jordanian King Abdullah II.

The US secretary of state Condaoleezza Rice had expressed in conclusion of her meeting with Abbas on Monday her confidence in the success of Sharm al-Sheikh summit. She said that the US will exert all efforts in the coming weeks and months in order to give a push forward to the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.

Rice also announced that Washington will appoint Gen. William Word as a security coordinator to follow up the operation of reforming the Palestinian security department, noting that Washington appreciates what she called the tangible steps taken by Abbas to prevent the attacks against Israel. Rice also said that Abbas and Sharon will visit Washington in Spring.

In line with these statements, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas said in a joint press conference with the French foreign minister Michael Barieh on Monday that he expects announcing "positive results" in Sharm al-Sheikh. He also announced France support together with the European union for the resumption of the peace process.