ISRAEL: Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbacher pays tribute at Yad Vashim memorial to Holocaust victims/Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert uncertain about reaching agreement on Palestinian statehood in time for Mideast summit

Record ID: 401356

  • Title: ISRAEL: Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbacher pays tribute at Yad Vashim memorial to Holocaust victims/Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert uncertain about reaching agreement on Palestinian statehood in time for Mideast summit
  • Date: 4th September 2007
  • Summary: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT AND GUSENBACHER WALKING DOWN RED CARPET DURING MILITARY CEREMONY AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 19th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ELB09GH9XPDQSFISSXPHTBUO
  • Story Text: Austrian Chancellor Gusenbacher pays tribute at Yad Vashim memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem. In a joint news conference Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he is not sure he will be able to reach a deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on statehood principles before a U.S.-sponsored conference in November.
    Austrian Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbacher on Monday (September 3) laid a wreath at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem memorial site, where he reaffirmed Austria's recognition of its past and its commitment to commemorating and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust.
    "It reminds us of our responsibility to safeguard the security of Israel and its neighbours, to secure the rebirth of the Jewish people,"
    said Gusenbacher.
    Despite a turbulent history of relations between Israel and Austria, Israel restored full diplomatic ties with Austria in 2003.
    Austria has played a leading role in initiating together with other European counterparts steps to improve relations between Israel and the European Union.
    Olmert said: "I see in this important visit an opportunity to strengthen and deepen the relations between our countries. Throughout the years the relations between Israel and Austria knew good times and bad.
    Recently, they were characterised by friendship and co-operation in various significant areas."
    GUsenbacher said: "And it's true that the relationship between Austria and Israel not always has been an easy one but I think we are embarking n a new initiative and we are opening up a new chapter in our relationship, a chapter of friendship and co-operation."
    Gusenbacher also took the opportunity to reaffirm the importance of maintaining a strong stance on Iran's nuclear programme and expectations that Iran stop the enrichment program altogether.
    "I think it's important that we stick to the decisions that the Security Council took and to the sanctions that were implemented. We see already some success but sufficient success after sanctions that we implemented and still Iran has to come forward with much more evidence and not just has to speed down the process but they have to end the process," he said.
    During his three day visit to the region, Gusenbacher has been encouraging peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials in the lead up to the Middle East conference in November.
    Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has declared that he hopes to reach an agreement with the Palestinians on statehood principles but it was unclear if that would be possible before a U.S.-planned conference in November.
    Olmert and Abbas, spurred by the latter's break with Hamas after the Islamist group seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, have held regular meetings aimed at agreeing on a framework for renewed peace negotiations.
    Olmert said: "I am talking with President Abbas very interesting and very meaningful talks and we are not yet at a point where we are writing our exchanges. It is too preliminary. We hope to be able to do it and when we will do it we will certainly introduce this in the appropriate forums. If we will be able to draft something before November, we certainly will make a joint statement in Washington but I am not certain that we will be able to do it. We will try."
    Abbas has complained of a lack of specific undertakings by Olmert, saying on Sunday (September 2) that this could doom the regional parley to failure. Israeli officials, for their part, have voiced doubt over dealing with Abbas's West Bank mandate.
    Gusenbacher will travel to the West Bank on Tuesday (September 4) to meet the Palestinian leadership.
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