Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 20, 2007

Rice Says US-Sponsored Mideast Conference Must Be 'Substantive'
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19921EC:A6F02AD83191E160B515E926823E72999574F7DCC14957C0 US secretary of
state says Bush administration will work aggressively to ensure
success of peace conference, planned for November U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice says an upcoming Mideast peace conference must
be "substantive" and advance the cause of Palestinian statehood.







U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (l) and Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas, shake hands at a press conference after their
meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah, 20 Sep 2007Rice spoke
Thursday after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in
Ramallah. She said the Bush administration will work aggressively to
ensure the success of the U.S.-sponsored peace conference, which is
planned for November.

At a joint news conference with Rice, Mr. Abbas said the proposed
conference should launch "serious negotiations" with Israel on
establishing a Palestinian state.

Washington has not set a date or location for the conference and has
not said who will be invited to attend.

Mr. Abbas' government wants the conference to produce an outline for a
Mideast peace deal that includes a timetable for implementation.
Israeli officials have said they are seeking a less-detailed
declaration of principles.

Israel is promising not to provoke a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza
Strip, after announcing its decision Wednesday to declare the
Hamas-ruled territory an "enemy entity." That designation could clear
the way for cuts in vital supplies to the impoverished Palestinian
region.

Rice said the U.S. shares Israeli opposition to Hamas, but will not
abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza.

Hamas seized control of Gaza in June during fighting with the rival
Fatah group of President Abbas. Mr. Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led
Palestinian government and appointed a new administration based in the
West Bank.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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