U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he is optimistic that the upcoming U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference will lay the foundation for a Palestinian state as well as peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
"I'm encouraged from what Condi tells me is going on in the Middle East. The attitude is, 'let's work together to lay out that vision for the sake of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and it's possible,'" Bush said at a press conference.
"I believe that we will see a democratic (Palestinian) state despite moves to dampen the plan by 'extremists.' I'm optimistic this can be achieved and we'll continue working to that end," Bush said.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is currently on a Middle East tour to try to reach compromise between Israel and the Palestinian side before the peace conference, which is expected to take place in Annapolis, Maryland in late November or early December.
Rice will host the meeting and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to attend. U.S. President George W. Bush may attend parts of the meeting.
The Middle East peace process has been stalled due to the violence between the two sides as well as the internal conflicts of Palestinian factions.
Source: Xinhua
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