Rice debates Middle East with allies

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks with Nato partners on the Middle East peace process, as the alliance sought to widen trans-Atlantic dialogue beyond its traditional emphasis on European defence.

The focus at yesterday’s meeting in Lithuania was on the next steps needed to push forward the peace process, Rice said before a dinner to kick off the two-day meeting.

“We all agree the most important task ahead of us right now is a successful Israeli disengagement from Gaza and the four settlements in the West Bank.”

Her comments were an immediate sign of the willingness of Nato allies on both sides of the Atlantic to boost the alliance’s political role and hold more discussions on regional issues. Diplomats said they hoped such talks could avoid the kind of division that developed over the Iraq war.

Diplomats said the Middle East dominated the discussions during the dinner, but other officials stressed that talking about the Middle East did not signify Nato was preparing for a military role in helping end violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

“It’s too early to talk about Nato involvement or engagement, but it cannot be ruled out in terms of stability and security,” said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

Alliance diplomats insist any involvement on the ground would only be considered if the two sides signed a peace deal and both requested Nato’s help with UN backing. If Nato does get involved in the Middle East, one option could be helping to train Palestinian security forces, officials said.

With a full day of talks scheduled for today, diplomats said Rice was also expected to raise the issue of Darfur, the western region of Sudan where Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said the alliance should be prepared to halt ethnic violence – if requested by the African Union.

Today’s talks were also set to include discussions of Kosovo’s future status and western engagement in Afghanistan beyond the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Rice praised the contribution of the Baltic states and the other four former eastern-bloc nations that entered Nato a year ago. “You’ve given new energy and inspiration to the alliance,” she told Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus.

Lithuania pressed allies to offer Ukraine’s new pro-Western government hope of eventual Nato membership.

“It is our task to keep Nato’s door open for those nations in Eastern Europe who seek to reform themselves and build their future on Euro-Atlantic values,” Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, wrote on his ministry’s website.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasuyk, and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, were due to hold separate talks with the Nato allies today.

The Ukrainian government has been pushing for closer ties with Nato, while Moscow has voiced concerns about its waning political influence with its former Soviet neighbours.

Nato ministers are expected to offer Ukraine a package of enhanced political and military cooperation, but to stop short of setting out a path for it to join the alliance.

Despite Moscow’s differences with Nato, Lavrov was scheduled to sign an agreement with the allies to facilitate joint military manoeuvres, troop training and ease the transport of forces through each other’s territories.

Rice flew to Vilnius from Moscow where she and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised their nations’ cooperation in areas such as dealing with terrorism and regional conflicts.

“We see Russia as a strategic partner in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons,” she said. “We see Russia as a partner in solving regional issues, like the Balkans or the Middle East.”

Tight security surrounded the Nato meeting. About 1,000 Lithuanian police and soldiers were deployed to protect ministers. Traffic was halted for three days on streets near the hotel where ministers were meeting.