The international Middle East conference in Annapolis has resulted in a decisive step toward peace and stability in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on a joint guiding document. The goal is the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine in two independent states.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, attending the international conference on November 27 in his role as presiding chairman of the G8, voiced cautious optimism about the prospects for peace and called the conference an encouraging beginning.
"A conference alone is no guarantee for stability and peace in the Middle East," Steinmeier said before leaving the United States. After realistically estimating the conference, Germany's expectations for the conference have been fulfilled, he said.
Steinmeier especially noted the surprisingly positive comments from Arab states.
He also pointed out that the progress attained at the conference would not have been possible if the United States had not assumed the responsibility for it.
Much Work Still Ahead
In his speech to the conference, Steinmeier called the Annapolis conference an important guidepost for peace in the Middle East and said participants should not hesitate to gather for another meeting in the same format at an appropriate time.
In Annapolis, the parties have had a chance to overcome their differences in direct bilateral talks and with the extraordinary international and regional support, Steinmeier said. The United States will play a decisive role now in ensuring and expanding on the conference's success. But also those who gathered in Annapolis will have to do their part to make the follow-up successful, he said.
Steinmeier outlined three points that are central to the post-Annapolis process: the direct substantive negotiation of the parties; the unity of the states who are supporting them; and the careful parallel stabilization of the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Pleased about the guiding document negotiated at the last minute, Steinmeier said there is now a real chance that peace negotiations could be completed successfully in the coming year. The fact that Olmert and Abbas in their speeches also addressed the problems of neighboring peoples with great sensitivity, Steinmeier said, bolsters his confidence.
The most important work is still ahead, namely the resolution of fundamental problems such as security, the status of Jerusalem, the refugee issue and borders.
Europe can play an important role in the peace process, especially with economic aid for the people in West Bank, which will show the people that peace pays, Steinmeier said. The EU action plan will therefore support the continuing process and consolidate European measures.
The German Government is also preparing a package of support measures, which includes the support of Palestinian security forces in Nablus.
In addition, on 17 December in Paris, a donor conference will take place to discuss how to improve the Palestinians' living standards.
Steinmeier in the Region
Foreign Minister Steinmeier last held intensive talks in the region late in October. At that time, he could already detect that all sides were seriously working toward progress in the peace process prior to the conference in Annapolis. It is clear to Steinmeier that Israel and the Palestinians themselves must reach an agreement; however, the EU is willing to assist.
As current G8 Chairman, Minister Steinmeier took part in the international Middle East conference in Annapolis (Maryland, near Washington) at the invitation of his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
The conference began on Monday evening with a dinner at the State Department in Washington. It ended the next day, Tuesday. Participating in the conference, apart from the conflict parties themselves - i.e. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -, were Arab neighbouring countries, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the EU and other countries.