Evian, June 02: In his first personal foray into Middle East peace talks, US President George W Bush today pledged to "put as much time as necessary" into achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians to help them live side by side. Bush, on the eve of two days of talks with leaders in the region, said he knew it would not be an easy task to end years of hostility in the region. But he told reporters, "I think we'll make some progress. I know we're making progress". After staying aloof from the Middle East for 18 months as violence between the two sides escalated, Bush became the first president specifically to endorse a Palestinian state but said it could come only with a more democratic Palestinian system and without Yasser Arafat.

His comments came during a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac during an economic summit here. Chirac said he sent his "very sincere wishes" for Bush's success in the Mideast meetings.

"We regret that he is obliged to leave earlier than planned, but it's for a cause to which we are all deeply attached, that of peace in the Middle East," Chirac said.
Bush was cutting short his attendance at the summit today to head for the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik. There he planned to press Arab leaders to do more to show open support for new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, US officials said.

Bush hoped to win additional backing for a US-backed peace plan that would lead to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. Bureau Report