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Last update - 05:38 01/04/2008 Russia's UN envoy: Moscow summit would energize peace process By The Associated Press Tags: Quartet, Israel, Palestinians  A Mideast conference in Moscow this summer would energize efforts to achieve a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of the year, Russia's UN ambassador said Monday. Vitaly Churkin told reporters that the Moscow meeting was part of a strategy agreed to by the Quartet of key Mideast players - the U.S., the UN, the European Union and Russia - at last November's meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, where the Israeli and Palestinian leaders reached an agreement to achieve a peace deal in 2008. "Certainly, the way we look at it, the meeting that we are planning to convene in Moscow ... would be serving the purpose of energizing the political efforts," Churkin told a news conference. "It's a part of our obligation we feel as a member of the Quartet, in support of the joint effort which is being spearheaded by the United States for obvious reasons." Advertisement Despite the recent upsurge in violence, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have kept on holding private talks, which many hope will be a prelude to peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state. "I think this is certainly a very worthy goal to strive at," Churkin said. "There is now an effort and a process which wasn't there a year ago. So we're all working very hard to make it a reality. If it's not now, when?" Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently traveled to the region to consult with various parties about the conference, and other Russian officials are also holding talks, he said. "It is our intention, and it is the intention of the Quartet to have that meeting in Moscow, and hopefully that will highlight some progress in negotiations, will give an additional impetus to the negotiations, and also create conditions when the Security Council could be more relevant," Churkin said. The council has been polarized on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, though Churkin said members almost reached agreement on a statement on the rocketing of Israel and the Israeli attacks in response in Gaza. "If some (Israeli-Palestinian) agreement becomes a possibility, the Security Council has a better chance to finally start coming up with something solid on this matter," Churkin said. Last week, the Palestinians and Israelis called for stepped up international support to reach a peace settlement by the end of the year, blaming each other for the recent upsurge in violence but agreeing that the current talks are the only route to end the decades-long conflict. The Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour called the Moscow meeting "extremely needed and urgent" to revive the peace process. He said there was some discussion of the meeting taking place in June. Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman made no mention of a follow-up conference in Moscow. Israel is thought to be unenthusiastic about the meeting, partly because they want the focus to remain on an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, and not on its dispute with Syria over the Golan Heights which Russia is thought to want on the agenda. Israel also has outstanding issues with Lebanon. Asked whether the Moscow meeting would focus on all three tracks, Churkin said, "definitely the Israeli-Palestinian track is going to be the most important one." "But I don't think anybody disagrees that if there is an opportunity to broaden the horizon it would be very useful because the ultimate deal in the Middle East cannot be reached without all the three tracks taken care of - the Syrian track and the Lebanese track" as well. "How much of it is going to be realistically possible by the time we have the meeting in Moscow remains to be seen, but we are exploring all venues without any detriment to the Israeli-Palestinian track," Churkin said. Related articles: Israel says it opposes Russian plans for Moscow peace summit Moscow pushing for regional peace summit in April Report: Annapolis summit to be followed by meeting in Moscow Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   IS THIS ACCEPTABLE FOR PEACE 05:09  |  MOE 01/04/08   2.   Hey IM MAHMOUD ABBAS AND I SAY 05:10  |  Mahmoud Abbas 01/04/08   3.   FREE PALESTINE 05:11  |  Jean Van Daem* 01/04/08   4.   We need a Palestinian state 05:12  |  BEN JABO** 01/04/08   5.   And by "energize" we mean attack Israel to pander to Arabs 05:17  |  McQueen 01/04/08   6.   At every turn 05:40  |  Mark Lincoln 01/04/08   7.   Replace ?peace? with strength and determination. 08:48  |  Jean Van Daem 01/04/08   8.   Russian and American peace efforts are far too weak 08:59  |  Natallie Durson 01/04/08   9.   Moscow peace summit ? The alternative 09:01  |  English Resident 01/04/08   10.   .. the last thing that Israel wants is to energise it. 10:17  |  Chanalau, Tova 01/04/08   11.   DO NOT TRUST RUSSIA!!! 10:23  |  James 01/04/08   12.   russia and all fools day news peace makers at large 12:07  |  v hardman 01/04/08   13.   Natallie Durson knows about weakness 13:27  |  Joe Sittizen 01/04/08   14.   The 3 track approach,with Palestine first on the list is the 14:08  |  lakshmi 01/04/08   15.   Who needs another peace conference? 14:13  |  Cynical 01/04/08   16.   The russians are back again -The PLO is a creation of the KGB. 14:39  |  Jean Van Daem 01/04/08   17.   To Joe Sittizen 15:09  |  Muslim 01/04/08   18.   Belfast is not much better than Siberia Hardman 15:09  |  the Pope 01/04/08   19.   13 Joe Cittizen to Natalie D. when will you realise that israel 16:14  |  lakshmi 01/04/08   20.   17 muslim,good post,interesting to know what is going on behind 16:18  |  lakshmi 01/04/08   21.   #18 but its not proposing to hold a peace conference 17:47  |  v hardman 01/04/08   22.   6 Mark Lincoln and brutal authoritarianism,there is an article in 18:35  |  lakshmi 01/04/08

Today Online Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions Responses: 158 Editorial: Israel's settlement policy is one of deception Responses: 82 Barak heeds Rice, softens stance on PA running Gaza crossings Responses: 42 'If rabbis won't marry interfaith couples, they should send them to someone who will' Responses: 22 Rosner's Domain Clinton and Obama voters support Israel in similar numbers Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: What percentage of Jews will vote McCain? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) More Headlines 16:33 Barak: Gaza crossings may open if violence stops 18:36 Benizri: I've been persecuted for 8 years for no fault of my own 18:49 UN agency says sick Gazans die in 'avoidable tragedies' 16:55 Two civilians lightly hurt in mortar attack on Negev kibbutz 16:38 Yesha Chief Rabbi: Giving arms to the PA is against Jewish law 16:40 Revealing God's female voice 16:42 Facebook, Google founders to attend Jerusalem conference in May 18:40 Reputed crime family member denies 2004 teen murder 17:31 Police arrest Netivot mother suspected of raping two sons 15:29 Shortage of prison cells hampers PA law and order campaign 16:43 U.K. archives shed light on female spy who led anti-Nazi resistance 09:58 Carcinogenic materials found in 2 additional F-16I fighter jets Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

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