U.S. President George W. Bush expressed his hope on Wednesday that a Mideast peace pact can be achieved before he leaves office at the end of the year.
The U.S. president made the remarks during talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres.
"I come as an optimistic person and a realistic person -realistic in my understanding that it's vital for the world to fight terrorists to confront those who would murder the innocent to achieve political objectives," Bush said.
For the first time since he took office in 2000, President Bush is visiting Israel and later the Palestinian territories, trying to advance peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of the Annapolis peace conference last November.
"I come with high hopes, and the role of the United States will be to foster a vision of peace. The role of the Israeli leadership and the Palestinian leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define a vision," Bush said.
Upon arrival in Israel earlier in the day, Bush said, "We see anew opportunity for peace here in the Holy Land and for freedom across the region."
"We will discuss our deep desire for security and freedom and for peace throughout the Middle East," he added.
Peres, who was the first to address the American leader, called Bush "a great friend," adding that his vision of a two state solution which seemed remote in 2002 was now the basis for negotiations.
"The next twelve months will be a moment of truth. (They) must not yield just words. The days ahead are fateful: If time is not utilized for peace-making, destructive armament, belligerence, and terror will capture center stage," Peres said, underlining that "We have no right to miss this opportunity."
At a U.S.-sponsored international conference on Mideast peace process in Annapolis, Maryland last November, Israel and the Palestinians pledged to strive for a final-status agreement before the end of 2008 at the Annapolis conference.
But talks between the two sides have been low-key with no tangible progress.
Source:Xinhua
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