Ahern hails Middle East ceasefire deal

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today hailed the successful outcome of a summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Mr Ahern congratulated the two leaders on their efforts to maintain calm and urged them to develop the new potential for effective negotiations and a real political breakthrough.

He said the agreement on a ceasefire at talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik marked an important opportunity.

Mr Ahern said the objective and the prize would be a lasting peace in which two states, Israel and Palestine, would live side by side in peace and cooperation.

“Ireland, together with its European Union partners, would maintain their unswerving commitment to supporting the efforts of the international community to assist the parties in their continuing quest for peace,” a spokesman said.

The Taoiseach also welcomed the intensified engagement of the United States in the international efforts to resolve the conflict.

Mr Ahern said he was looking forward to exploring the opportunities for further action by the US and the EU at the forthcoming EU-US Summit in Brussels on February 22.