Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said here Saturday that an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is not likely to be reached by the end of the year.
Kouchner made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier in the day, the state MENA news agency reported.
However, Kouchner said the European Union (EU) and France will continue to support the U.S. efforts to push forward the Mideast peace process.
The EU's role in the international Quartet, which also groups Russia, the United Nations and the United States, and its contribution to the projects in the Palestinian territories will continue, said Kouchner.
Abul Gheit called on the EU to play a more effective role in the Mideast peace process.
The EU should "play a more effective political role and not just confine its role to offering economic assistance to the Palestinians," said Abul Gheit.
The European bloc can enhance its role within the framework of the international Quartet, Abul-Gheit said, confirming that a three-way meeting, including the Quartet, Israel and the Palestinians, is expected to be held in Cairo this November.
As little tangible progress has been made since the Annapolis conference last November, expectations are lowering for Israel and the Palestinians to clinch a comprehensive peace deal within 2008 as they pledged.
Source: Xinhua
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