An American official source said the United States administration is pressuring the Europeans to reject the idea of holding an international peace conference on the Middle East proposed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin’s suggestion came during his historic visit to the Middle East during which he met with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Local observers said, the US should ‘pay more attention to the US-backed Road Map peace plan that is based on two states solution to the Middle East conflict.’
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity that U.S. President George W. Bush will bring up this issue with Putin during his visit to Moscow scheduled for the end of this week.
On the other hand, the European Union foreign policy coordinator, Javier Solana wil meet with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to coordinate the American and European Positions on the Russian proposal of a Middle East International conference for peace, the source said.
‘Solana will tell Rice that the Europeans are worried about the delay in implementing what has been agreed upon in the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit between the Palestinian and Israeli officials, and the delay in the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip’, the source said.
In exchange to the intended Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Israel is expanding the settlement of Ma’ale Adomim and connect it with Jerusalem, which will by any chance diminish chances for East Jerusalem to become the capitol of the future Palestinian state.
