Washington: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Friday that the Middle East peace process will get back on track next week, with indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks. But she urged the resumption of direct negotiations on a peace deal.
Hillary said that the Obama administration`s special Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, who will mediate in the talks, will travel to the region next week. His visit will follow a weekend meeting of Arab League diplomats.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat hinted that the beginning of the talks was not yet a done deal. "We are making every possible effort to begin these talks. Every effort is being made to do this. But the official decision will be made by the Arab foreign ministers and the
PLO executive committee," he said. He would not elaborate further.
Israeli government officials had no immediate reaction.
Indirect talks involve US officials meeting with one side at a time, and there are not any negotiations planned where Israelis and Palestinians are at the same table.
"Ultimately, we want to see the parties in direct negotiations and working out all the difficult issues that they must," Hillary told reporters after meeting with Kuwait`s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al Sabah.
PTI
