Ahern praises summit success

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday 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 co-operation.

"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 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.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to seize the chance to make peace and said yesterday's summit "was clearly an important step forward."

Both sides should make clear they want Syria and Iran to end support for terrorists seeking to wreck the chances for peace, Ms Rice said in a keynote address at the prestigious Sciences Politiques university during a fence-mending trip to Paris.

"Success is not assured, but America is resolute. This is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for some years to come and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance," Ms Rice said.

"President Bush is committed, I am personally committed, we must all be committed to seizing this chance."