Washington (Asia News) – The United States has announced it will host a Middle East peace conference on November 27 in Annapolis, (Maryland). 49 national and institutional representatives have been invited to attend the summit the first of its kind since 2000. Among them Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, UN Security Council Members, members of the G8, Arab league members, includes Syria and Jordan. The Vatican also figures on the invitation list.
Ahead of the conference, US President George W Bush is to hold bilateral discussions with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Washington on 26 November.
The two leaders met recently but without reaching consensus on a common document which it was hoped would be approved at Annapolis.
The main themes of the conference will be the borders of a future Palestinian state; the status of East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967; the fate of the Palestinian refugees and Jewish settler colonies in occupied territories.
Arab nations meet on November 23 to decide on their participation. Syria is demanding that the issue of the Golan Heights be addressed ay Annapolis, before agreeing its presence. Damascus is seeking the restitution of the land conquered by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 81- Saudi Arabia’s participation is of fundamental importance. The Kingdom has offered Israel an important peace proposal: diplomatic relations with all Arab nations in return for a Palestinian state.