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Mid-East peace conference backed Mid-East peace conference backed
(about 1 hour later)
The four key sponsors of the Middle East peace process have given strong backing to a November summit and say an Arab League panel will be invited.The four key sponsors of the Middle East peace process have given strong backing to a November summit and say an Arab League panel will be invited.
The Quartet - the US, EU, Russia and the UN - were meeting in New York to discuss the US-led peace summit plan.The Quartet - the US, EU, Russia and the UN - were meeting in New York to discuss the US-led peace summit plan.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the invitees would include Syria.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the invitees would include Syria.
The Quartet's new envoy, former UK PM Tony Blair, said that by the end of the year there could be a sense of how a Palestinian state could look.The Quartet's new envoy, former UK PM Tony Blair, said that by the end of the year there could be a sense of how a Palestinian state could look.
The Quartet issued a roadmap in 2003 for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, but little progress has been made.The Quartet issued a roadmap in 2003 for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, but little progress has been made.
'Natural invitees'
After Sunday's meeting, the Quartet issued a statement expressing its support for the proposed international meeting that the Americans have been in the forefront of promoting.After Sunday's meeting, the Quartet issued a statement expressing its support for the proposed international meeting that the Americans have been in the forefront of promoting.
Tony Blair displayed cautious optimism
Ms Rice said the Arab League committee, which includes Syria and Saudi Arabia, would be what she called natural invitees.Ms Rice said the Arab League committee, which includes Syria and Saudi Arabia, would be what she called natural invitees.
However, she added, those taking part must be committed to a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
Syria remains technically at war with Israel and Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the phrase "international meeting" is notable, perhaps indicating something short of a full-scale peace conference.BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the phrase "international meeting" is notable, perhaps indicating something short of a full-scale peace conference.
With the Palestinians divided and with Israel designating the Gaza Strip as hostile territory, the climate is not encouraging, he says.With the Palestinians divided and with Israel designating the Gaza Strip as hostile territory, the climate is not encouraging, he says.
High stakesHigh stakes
The Quartet also called for humanitarian assistance to Gaza to continue without obstruction - a warning to Israel, which has threatened to cut off vital energy supplies.The Quartet also called for humanitarian assistance to Gaza to continue without obstruction - a warning to Israel, which has threatened to cut off vital energy supplies.
It was Mr Blair's first briefing since he took up his envoy post in June
The Quartet noted its grave concern about the continued rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip, as well as what it termed recent efforts by the Hamas leadership there to stifle freedom of speech in the press.The Quartet noted its grave concern about the continued rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip, as well as what it termed recent efforts by the Hamas leadership there to stifle freedom of speech in the press.
The stakes over the coming weeks are high, our diplomatic correspondent says.The stakes over the coming weeks are high, our diplomatic correspondent says.
Mr Blair summed up what he called the big picture.Mr Blair summed up what he called the big picture.
He was not foolishly optimistic, he said, but he claimed that there was now momentum in the process.He was not foolishly optimistic, he said, but he claimed that there was now momentum in the process.
There was an "ambitious but achievable" plan to achieve by the end of the year a sense of how a Palestinian state would look, he said.There was an "ambitious but achievable" plan to achieve by the end of the year a sense of how a Palestinian state would look, he said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was chairing the talks with his Quartet partners: Ms Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was chairing the talks with his Quartet partners: Ms Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.