Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Tuesday that future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will address all the issues which have been avoided in the past.
"Negotiations will address all the issues we have been avoiding, " the Israeli prime minister said while speaking at a Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, which rallies representatives from more than 40 countries and international organizations.
"This will be an extremely difficult process for many of us," he added.
Addressing the conference after President George W. Bush and Palestinian leader President Mahmud Abbas, Olmert called on all parties concerned in the region to seize the "historical opportunity for peace" provided by the conference to kick off serious negotiations which could lead to a solution to the six- decade Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He said the process could be difficult and even "tormenting" but there is no "substitute."
"Together we shall start together. Together we shall arrive," Olmert said.
Just before the conference started earlier Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators reached an agreement on the framework for future negotiations to find a final solution the Middle East conflict.
"We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and non-violence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis," the framework document said.
"In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral (negotiations) in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements," it said.
"We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008," the document said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2007)
