Voor de lijst van genodigden zie onderaan.
De Verenigde Staten is gastvrij, en heeft iedereen die er ook maar een beetje toe doet, en nog een aantal andere landen, officiëel uitgenodigd voor de vredesconferentie in Annapolis volgende week. Wat landen als Polen, Brazilië, Spanje en Griekenland ermee te maken hebben mag Joost weten, maar hoe meer zielen hoe meer vreugd. Het lijkt erop dat de VS ook vooral aan de wereld wil laten zien dat ze nog steeds een leidende rol vervult, en zij, en niet de Verenigde Naties, de wereld bij elkaar kan brengen om één van de oudste en moeilijkste conflicten op te lossen.
Ondertussen heeft Syrië al afgezegd omdat de Golan niet officiëel op de agenda staat, maar het kan wellicht iets te maken hebben met hun bezoek aan Iran (zie artikel hieronder). Het is de vraag hoeveel van al die genodigden daadwerkelijk op komen dagen en hoe teleurgesteld zij zullen zijn als Israël en de Palestijnen het zelfs nog niet eens kunnen worden over een gemeenschappelijke verklaring.
Nimer Hammad, diplomatic adviser to Abbas, said Tuesday it was unlikely the two sides had drafted a joint document, and said that at the end of the summit, the two sides would present separate statements reflecting their respective views on the peace process.
"Not achieving an agreed joint statement suggests there is a major problem," Hammad told the press in Ramallah yesterday.
"We will travel there [to Annapolis] to declare that we insist on our rights," he added.
"Not achieving an agreed joint statement suggests there is a major problem," Hammad told the press in Ramallah yesterday.
"We will travel there [to Annapolis] to declare that we insist on our rights," he added.
Een wat mager resultaat, om daarvoor de halve wereld op te trommelen. "To insist on our rights" is bij de Palestijnen vaak een eufemisme voor maximalistische claims die een twee-statenoplossing uitsluiten, zoals het zogenaamde recht op terugkeer van de vluchtelingen en Palestijnse soevereiniteit over de Klaagmuur en het Joodse kwartier in Jeruzalem. Om daaraan vast te houden hoeven ze niet naar Annapolis te komen.
Een andere prangende vraag die me bezig houdt: als Noorwegen, Zweden en Slovenië uitgenodigd zijn, waarom Nederland dan niet?
Ratna
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Last update - 14:23 21/11/2007
U.S. awaits reply from 49 invitees to peace summit
The United States is inviting 49 countries, groups of nations, financial institutions and individuals to the Annapolis peace conference, which it announced Tuesday would take place on November 27.
Israel and the Palestinians received their invitations Tuesday, and the U.S. State Department said embassies elsewhere were notifying the others, asking them to send their foreign ministers or other appropriate officials to the event, aimed at launching negotiations for the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Cairo will accept the invitation. "The foreign minister will respond affirmatively to the American invitation in the context of Egypt's continuing desire to give any possible assistance to the Palestinian cause," the ministry said in a statement.
Israel and the Palestinians received their invitations Tuesday, and the U.S. State Department said embassies elsewhere were notifying the others, asking them to send their foreign ministers or other appropriate officials to the event, aimed at launching negotiations for the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Cairo will accept the invitation. "The foreign minister will respond affirmatively to the American invitation in the context of Egypt's continuing desire to give any possible assistance to the Palestinian cause," the ministry said in a statement.
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State news agency MENA said that Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit would attend the conference in Annapolis, Maryland after receiving an invitation from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Palestinian and Egyptian sources said Tuesday that Syria and Saudi Arabia would attend the meet.
Syria and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce their level of representation at the conference within a few days, following the Arab foreign ministers' meeting at Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Thursday and Friday.
The conference will be anchored around a marathon session Tuesday at the U.S. Naval Academy to be opened by President George W. Bush, who will meet Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and address a dinner of all participants the day before.
Back in Washington on Wednesday, Bush plans to see Olmert and Abbas privately again for a third time in as many days, ostensibly to seal their intent to create a Palestinian state by the end of his second term in January 2009.
Quartet envoy Tony Blair is scheduled to arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Olmert. Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah will come to the Red Sea resort town Thursday for meetings with the Egyptian president. It was not immediately clear if Syria and Saudia Arabia would also be attending the meeting.
Observers believe that Syria will try to take advantage of the Annapolis summit in order to strengthen its hand internationally. "Syria will not refuse an American invitation," said a Palestinian source in Cairo. Mubarak, after meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday, also said that he expects Syria to attend the conference.
Syria's Foreign Minister, Walid Moallem, paid a visit to Tehran on Tuesday. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attacked the Annapolis summit during his meeting with Moallem, saying that the summit organizers - the Americans - "aim to connect all the Arab countries to the Zionist regime," and that the summit will only hurt the Palestinian cause. Syria's news agency reported that Iranian and Syrian officials agreed on every topic on the table, but did not elaborate.
Syria has stated that it will not attend the summit unless an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights is placed on the agenda. It is still not clear how the issue will be dealt with at the summit, but one proposal involves mentioning the matter either in the summit's opening declaration or its concluding statement. Also not yet finalized is the level of Syrian representation at the summit.
Moallem's visit to Iran comes one day after a historic meeting between Syrian President Bashar Assad and King Abdullah of Jordan, the first between the two leaders. Abdullah is considered a friend of the West, in stark comparison with Assad, who has been isolated for his ties to terrorism and Iran. Arab sources in Cairo emphasized that the significance of this meeting lies in its timing, just days before the Annapolis summit and elections in Lebanon. "Abdullah is the closest Arab figure to the United States and to Israel. By meeting with him, Assad is sending a message," one source said.
Some theorize that Syria withdrew its opposition to choosing a Lebanese presidential candidate in exchange for an invitation to Annapolis. The Lebanese election will be held Thursday, the last possible date to choose a president in accordance with the country's constitution. Lebanon's political rivals have not been able to agree on a candidate yet.
If no president is selected on Friday, it could create a political vacuum, and a subsequent crisis.
Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia have emphasized their desire for Syria to be invited to Annapolis. Both states have had tense relations with Syria, in part due to the Second Lebanon War between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Assad insulted Arab leaders across the Middle East as "half men" for their hands-off stances during the fighting.
Sides continue to seek breakthrough on joint statement
Abbas on Tuesday departed for Jordan, where he will begin a journey to Annapolis that will include stops in Cairo and Rabat, Morocco.
Abbas is accompanied by the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, former PA prime minister Ahmed Qureia, as well as two of the negotiators - Yasser Abed Rabbo and Akram Haniyeh.
The departure of these key personalities suggests that the preliminary negotiations phase has been completed. Meanwhile, there is no sign of a joint statement by Israel and the PA.
Nimer Hammad, diplomatic adviser to Abbas, said Tuesday it was unlikely the two sides had drafted a joint document, and said that at the end of the summit, the two sides would present separate statements reflecting their respective views on the peace process.
"Not achieving an agreed joint statement suggests there is a major problem," Hammad told the press in Ramallah yesterday.
"We will travel there [to Annapolis] to declare that we insist on our rights," he added.
Nonetheless, the two sides are expected to continue talks over the coming days in an effort to conclude a joint statement. The Palestinians are represented by PLO chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat.
The Israeli and the Palestinian negotiation teams met again Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to prepare a joint document before next week's Annapolis meeting.
Abbas is accompanied by the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, former PA prime minister Ahmed Qureia, as well as two of the negotiators - Yasser Abed Rabbo and Akram Haniyeh.
The departure of these key personalities suggests that the preliminary negotiations phase has been completed. Meanwhile, there is no sign of a joint statement by Israel and the PA.
Nimer Hammad, diplomatic adviser to Abbas, said Tuesday it was unlikely the two sides had drafted a joint document, and said that at the end of the summit, the two sides would present separate statements reflecting their respective views on the peace process.
"Not achieving an agreed joint statement suggests there is a major problem," Hammad told the press in Ramallah yesterday.
"We will travel there [to Annapolis] to declare that we insist on our rights," he added.
Nonetheless, the two sides are expected to continue talks over the coming days in an effort to conclude a joint statement. The Palestinians are represented by PLO chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat.
The Israeli and the Palestinian negotiation teams met again Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to prepare a joint document before next week's Annapolis meeting.
"I don't know if we can finalize the document," Erekat said.
Following yesterday's meeting, an government official said that "most of the articles in the declaration had been finalized and the discussions would continue over the coming days."
He added that at this stage, the discussions revolved around the joint document, and final changes were being added.
According to the same source, the declaration will describe Annapolis as "the start of the process, which will be followed by negotiations on the core issues" - Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and borders.
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Last update - 21:45 21/11/2007
List of invitees to the U.S.-hosted Middle East peace conference in Annapolis
By The Associated Press
The United States is inviting 49 countries, groups of nations, financial institutions and individuals to a Middle East peace conference it will host next week.
Israel and the Palestinians received their invitations Tuesday and U.S. embassies elsewhere were notifying the others, asking them to send their foreign ministers or other appropriate officials to the event, the State Department said.
Following is the full list of conference invitees. The representation for most invitees is not clear. The U.S. includes itself as an invitee.
The United States, host, to be represented by President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Israel, to be represented by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Palestinians, to be represented by Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and senior officials.
Members of the international diplomatic quartet on the Middle East other than the United States:
The United Nations, to be represented by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
European Union presidency, to be represented by Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado.
European Union Commission, to be represented by EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
European Union High Representative for foreign affairs Javier Solana.
Russia, expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the quartet special representative to the Middle East.
Members of the Arab League committee tasked with pursuing a Saudi initiative for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal. Of these, only Egypt and Jordan have full diplomatic with Israel:
Arab League, to be represented by Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
Algeria
Bahrain
Egypt
Jordan
Lebanon
Morocco
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Yemen
Other members of the Arab League:
Iraq
Mauritania
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Permanent members of the UN Security Council not included in above categories:
Britain
China
France
Members of the Group of Eight industrialized countries not included in above categories:
Canada
Germany
Italy
Japan
Members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference not included in above categories:
Indonesia
Malaysia
Pakistan
Senegal
Turkey
Other nations:
Brazil
Greece
India
Norway
Poland
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Financial institutions invited as observers:
International Monetary Fund
World Bank
Israel and the Palestinians received their invitations Tuesday and U.S. embassies elsewhere were notifying the others, asking them to send their foreign ministers or other appropriate officials to the event, the State Department said.
Following is the full list of conference invitees. The representation for most invitees is not clear. The U.S. includes itself as an invitee.
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Members of the international diplomatic quartet on the Middle East other than the United States:
Members of the Arab League committee tasked with pursuing a Saudi initiative for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal. Of these, only Egypt and Jordan have full diplomatic with Israel:
Other members of the Arab League:
Permanent members of the UN Security Council not included in above categories:
Members of the Group of Eight industrialized countries not included in above categories:
Members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference not included in above categories:
Other nations:
Financial institutions invited as observers:
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