events 2008

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Secretary Rice Travels to Middle East and Europe, Discusses Peace Process

March 4, 2008

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is traveling to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Brussels March 3-7, 2008. Secretary Rice will travel to Egypt to discuss peace process negotiations and the situation in Gaza with government representatives. Next, she will meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to support their ongoing bilateral dialogue and the serious effort underway to achieve agreement this year on the establishment of a Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

In Brussels, the Secretary will participate in a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and will meet with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and the EU Ministerial troika on March 6. She will also deliver keynote remarks at a meeting of the Women Leaders Working Group, organized by EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Secretary Rice: "I do think that negotiations ought to resume as soon as possible. I understand that the situation has been complicated. But the longer the negotiations are not ongoing or the longer that they are suspended, if that’s what one wants to call it, the more predictive for those who don’t want to see a two-state solution. And I’m quite confident that Palestinians, led by Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israelis still have an overwhelming interest in that two-state solution."

To read the complete remarks please click here.