Paris, May 23: The United States is not planning to make any changes to the internationally-backed roadmap for the Middle East peace, Secretary of State Colin Powell said today at the end of a meeting of G8 foreign ministers here. "With respect to the roadmap, we are not planning on making any changes," Powell told a joint press conference in the French capital.

"We have told the Israeli government that we would take their comments into consideration... But this does not require us to change the roadmap," he added.

Just before the press conference began, the United States issued a statement from Powell and US national security advisor Condoleezza Rice saying that Israel had told Washington of its "significant concerns" about the peace plan.

"The United States shares the view of the government of Israel that these are real concerns, and will address them fully and seriously in the implementation of the roadmap," the statement read.

But while Powell insisted in Paris that the plan did not require any changes, he did voice US concerns about Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying he was no longer an effective interlocutor.

"We don't believe that he has lived up to the expectations of the Israeli people, Powell said, adding: "We will be investing our time and energy with (Palestinian) Prime Minister (Mahmud) Abbas."

The statement seemed to belittle French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin's plans to meet Arafat on Monday in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Bureau Report