"Because of the Israeli elections, to be frank, and because of the number of issues that are before the Israeli public right now, we think it would be wiser in this instance for us to continue work on the road map and wait until after the Israeli election is over," Powell said at a press conference, held after one-day meeting with EU delegates for semi-annual consultations between the two sides.

"It's just a matter of weeks until that is resolved and then we will engage with all the parties," the secretary added.

But Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, stressed at the press conference that it is very important for the voters of Israel to know what the world thinks about the situation in the Middle East.

"Being an enlightened voter means that you also have the information on which you build your vote," said Moeller, who led the EU delegation at the one-day consultations.

Moeller's remarks echoed some comments made by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Washington on Tuesday. "The road map is very clear but we have not been able to move the train out of the station a single inch. It's in the station and we have not been able to get it moving and that's what we have to do," Solana said.

The European Union and Arab countries favor the early adoption of the "road map" peace plan which will lead to the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel by 2005.

The United States, however, has been unenthusiastic about the plan because Israel insists the issue be shelved until after its general elections on January 28.

(China Daily December 19, 2002)