'Mideast settlement possible'

2007-11-29 16:10

Cape Town - South Africa remains convinced a peaceful Middle East settlement is still possible despite the violence and despair, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Annapolis conference on the Middle East in the United States, she said experience had shown successful conflict resolution had the willingness of the parties to negotiate without preconditions at its basis.

"To encourage the parties, we make reference to South Africa's own historical experience of negotiating an end to the conflict in our country that at times seemed unsolvable.

"This encourages us to believe that such a settlement is possible in the Middle East.

"Despite the violence and despair that threatens peaceful change in conflict situations, our belief is that the only alternative is an inclusive negotiated solution," Dlamini-Zuma said.

Therefore, South Africa supported the launch by the conference of a process to negotiate to resolve all issues, including final status issues leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The way forward to peace had to include the establishment of an independent, economically viable state of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel, with both states enjoying secure and internationally recognised borders.

The pursuit of peace meant neither side created conditions that would undermine confidence-building measures that were possible.

Leaders and negotiators should be in a position to move freely and be able to have access to their constituencies without any hindrance.

Even though substantial effort had been put into the process, a lot more effort was necessary to reach the target of a resolution of the conflict by the end of 2008.

"Our government stands committed to assist the respective parties in their quest for lasting peace," Dlamini-Zuma said.

- SAPA