Israeli President Shimon Peres expressed cautious optimism on the future of peace in the Middle East when he met Wednesday in Rome with Italian Head of State Giorgio Napolitano.
At the start of his first official three-day visit since becoming president in July, Peres added that the direct channel recently opened between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was "encouraging."
During their talks, Peres voiced his appreciation for the role Italy has played within the European Union to promote the Mideast peace process and its participation in the multinational peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
"We want Lebanon to be united and at peace. And thanks to Italy and its command of the international peace force, the general situation there has improved and there has been peace on our borders," Peres said.
Napolitano replied that the mission in Lebanon was very important for Italy and had the full support of Italians, according to Italian News Agency ANSA.
Looking at the situation in the Palestinian territories, Peres accused the fundamentalist group Hamas of being an obstacle to peace.
Peres will meet with Premier Romano Prodi Wednesday evening for a working dinner and will also encounter members of Rome's Jewish community.
On Thursday, the Israeli president will hold talks with Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Massimo D'Alema and Culture Minister and Deputy Premier Francesco Rutelli.
Source: Xinhua
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