Norwegian Foregin Minister Thorbjoern Jagland called Thursday on the Palestinians not to miss an opportunity for lasting peace.
"Time is short and it is necessary to reach an agreement this autumn so that the Palestinians don't miss the opportunity in front of them," Jagland told reporters after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Jagland said that after recent meetings in Oslo with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat he was "convinced there is a possibility of reaching an accord this fall based on compromises.”
He said the two sides talked about Jerusalem, but declined to give details on the discussions.
Referring to the issue of Palestinian refugees, Jagland said Norway was "can contribute to the solution of this problem by supplying financial support."
Norway has earlier voiced support for the Palestinians' right to declare a state unilaterally.
Jagland left Egypt later Thursday to Israel for a two-day visit as part of his Middle East tour for consultations on the peace process.
Norway hosted the secret negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization that led to the breakthrough Oslo accords in September 1993 -- ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AFP)
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