Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and his US counterpart, Colin Powell, agreed in Rome on Tuesday that Palestinians and Israelis should reach an understanding on international observers to monitor points of frictions, reported the official Kuwaiti news agency, KUNA.
Powell, in a statement to reporters after a lengthy meeting with Ivanov on fringe of the G8 preparatory meeting, refused to give details about his talks with Ivanov but said the American administration had discussed with the concerned parties the possibility of sending American observers.
Powell emphasized the need to obtain approval from the Israelis and Palestinians, and to verify the suitability of conditions on the ground.
Obtaining Palestinian approval should not be hard, since Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has been clamoring for international observers for months. Israel, on the other hand, has repeatedly rejected such appeals.
Both Powell and Ivanov voiced desire to work with the conflicting parties in the Middle East to ease tension, execute the Mitchell reports recommendations and resume peace negotiations, said the agency – Albawaba.com
