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Meet to address sources of tensions in West Asia

DUBAI: Representatives of around 50 countries and organisations are set to begin talks in Annapolis on Tuesday to revive the Israel-Palestinian “peace process” and deal with other sources of tension in West Asia.

While the Israel-Palestinian issue tops the agenda of the conference, discussions are also likely to address the dispute between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights as well as developments in Iran.

Non-participants, Iran and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, have declared that the conference would be a failure. Key Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt as well as the Arab League are participating in the conclave. Syria said on Saturday its deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekkad would attend after the hosts decided that its key concern — the status of the Golan — would be taken up. Without referring to Golan Heights specifically, a forum has been established at the conference that would take up issues that would lead to a “comprehensive peace in the Middle East [West Asia].”

American officials have clarified that the meeting would not take up the specifics of the Israel-Palestinian issue. Rather, the aim of the conference would be to restart negotiations on the “road map” for peace. The “road map” refers to a series of steps that have to be adopted before an independent Palestinian State can emerge.

Stephen Hadley, security adviser to U.S. President George Bush, told reporters on Sunday that the conference would focus on “the Israelis and the Palestinians launching a negotiating process.”

Discussions are expected to cover intensification of sanctions on Iran. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold talks separately with Mr. Bush on Iran. These talks are likely to focus on ways to curb the Iranian nuclear programme before Mr. Bush’s term as President ends next year.

Analysts point out that the American officials have been hinting that Washington would also utilise the conference to forge a “united” Arab front facing Iran.

However, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said before leaving for the conference that the Americans would be pushing for the acceptance of a comprehensive Arab peace plan that would lead to “total peace.”

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