Rice plans May 1-5 trip on Middle East peace talks
25 Apr 2008 18:22:34 GMT Source: Reuters
(Adds details) WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to London, Israel and the West Bank next week to discuss the Middle East peace process, the State Department said on Friday. During the May 1-5 trip, Rice will meet in London with other members of the so-called Quartet of Middle East negotiators -- Russia, the United Nations and the European Union --on progress made since December, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. In Israel and the West Bank, McCormack said Rice will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials on issues including the situation in the Gaza Strip, which was taken over by the Islamist Hamas movement last year. Rice's trip is expected to be her last to the region before President George W. Bush goes there in mid-May. News of the trip came a day after Bush assured Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas that Palestinian statehood remained a high priority in his final 10 months in office, despite faltering peace talks. But recent violence that has killed scores of people, mainly Palestinians, in recent months has fueled skepticism over the chances of achieving peace before Bush leaves office. She will use her London visit to encourage donations of assistance pledged to the Palestinian Authority in Paris last December. McCormack said Rice would also discuss Iran and Kosovo in London and was scheduled to meet separately with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Middle East envoy Tony Blair. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and David Morgan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Hamas supporters raise their hands during a protest near the Erez crossing calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza strip April 25, 2008. Israel dismissed on Friday a ...
