Moussa: No progress in peace process unless Israel accepts U.S. initiative

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa confirmed in press statements yesterday that there cannot be any progress in the peace process without both sides accepting the U.S. initiative for the second phase of Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank on one hand and resuming final stage discussions on the other.

Then Moussa said that the expected Washington talks are conditioned on the approval of the two parties where the Palestinians have already agreed to attend, while Israel is still discussing the specifics of its final stance.

Moussa refused to express any optimism or pessimism toward what was achieved in the peace process on the Israeli - Palestinian track before the crystallization of the Israeli position concerning the U.S. initiative.

Concerning Amr Moussa's talks with the foreign minister of Norway, Knut Vollebaek, who is currently visiting Cairo, Moussa said the talks concentrated on the peace process and its different possibilities within what took place at the London meeting and expectations for the expected meeting in Washington.

Moussa referred to the importance of his talks with Vollebaek for the supportive and cooperative role played by Norway towards the peace process, which mainly emerged from the Oslo agreements in Norway.