A "two-state solution is the only way forward" says French FM at Middle East summit
Record ID:
164370
A "two-state solution is the only way forward" says French FM at Middle East summit
- Title: A "two-state solution is the only way forward" says French FM at Middle East summit
- Date: 15th January 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 15, 2017) (AGENCY POOL) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ROOM WHERE "CONFERENCE FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST" IS TAKING PLACE ATTENDEES GETTING READY FOR MEETING START ROOM WITH ATTENDEES GETTING READY FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER JEAN-MARC AYRAULT WALKING TO PODIUM WHITE FLASH FRAMES (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "It is not the time to give up because the urgency remains. The two sides remain very distant in a relationship of distrust which is particularly dangerous. No-one is safe from a violence erupting again. Our common responsibility is to from now on succeed in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "The two-state solution is the only way forward, the only way that will answer to both sides' aspiration and rights." WHITE FLASH AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AS AYRAULT LEAVES PODIUM/ATTENDEES IN ROOM
- Embargoed: 29th January 2017 09:53
- Keywords: Palestinian Israel Middle East peace process summit
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015Z6X9HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASH TO SEPARATE THE SOUNDBITES
France said on Sunday (January 15) that a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians is the only way forward in peace efforts.
Some 70 countries, including key European and Arab states as well as the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, gathered in Paris for a meeting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected as "futile" and "rigged".
France has said the meeting does not intend to impose anything on Israel or the Palestinians and that, ultimately, only direct negotiations between the two can resolve the conflict.
"It is not the time to give up because the urgency remains. The two sides remain very distant in a relationship of distrust which is particularly dangerous. No-one is safe from a violence erupting again. Our common responsibility is to from now on to succeed in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in his opening speech to participants.
Major powers will send a message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians is the only way forward, and warn that his plan to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem could derail peace efforts.
"The two-state solution is the only way forward, the only way that will answer to both sides' aspiration and rights," Ayrault said.
But, just five days before Trump is sworn in, the conference provides a platform for countries to send a strong signal to the future American leader.
Trump has pledged to pursue more pro-Israeli policies and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, where it has been for 68 years, to Jerusalem, all but enshrining the city as Israel's capital despite international objections.
A draft communique seen by Reuters reaffirms existing international resolutions, urges both sides to restate their commitment to the two-state solution and disavow officials who reject it, and asks the protagonists to "refrain from unilateral steps that prejudge the outcome of final status negotiations". - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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