Summit leaders unite on need to save damaged peace process

AS WHITE flags fluttered in the sun at the "Summit of Peacemakers", world leaders ended their meeting with a declaration to enhance…

AS WHITE flags fluttered in the sun at the "Summit of Peacemakers", world leaders ended their meeting with a declaration to enhance the Middle East peace process, promote security in the region and combat terrorism.

Although the meeting was short on practical measures, delegates said the very fact that the leaders came together at all was evidence that they were serious about peace.

They pointed out the unprecedented nature of the meeting, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm elSheikh, with all but five Arab states at the same table as Israel.

But away from the rhetoric, man said the meeting was a last ditch attempt to salvage what was left of the peace process. Suicide bombings in Israel have seriously threatened the electoral chances of the Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, against the hawkish Likud leader, Mr Binyamin Netanyahu.

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The four hour summit began with statements by the 29 heads of state, foreign ministers and heads of delegations. The speeches, some highly emotional, focused on ways of fighting terrorism and upholding the damaged Middle Fast peace process.

President Clinton, who co chaired the summit with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, talked of a "solidarity of peace makers" against those who want to make war. Delegates must engage in a common search for a comprehensive peace, and condemn and actively counter terrorism "with all the means at our command," he said.

Mr Peres continued the theme. "The Palestinians must fulfil the obligations of an elected authority," he said. "They must fight to prevent terror, which is causing the hardship in their midst."

He described how two children were killed in the latest spate of suicide bombings carried out by the radical Islamist group Hamas in Tel Aviv.

The Palestinian President Mr Yasser Aratat, warned that Palestinians, as well as Israelis must reap the rewards of peace.

In a strongly worded statement he attacked the security measures taken by Israel in the wake of the Hamas bombings. They "embarrass the Palestine National Authority in front of the Palestinian people," he said.

Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the wake of the bombings, causing hardship and resentment among Palestinians.

Speakers also underlined the need to stop governments and organisations from supporting terrorism. Iran was singled out by the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, as well as Mr Peres, who called Tehran "the capital of terror." But most delegates, avoided accusation and talked of co operation.

One of the few practical measures agreed was the formation of a working group open to all summit participants. Mr Clinton pledged that the group would convene within the coming month, but was vague about exactly what it would do.

President Yeltsin and the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud alFaisal, suggested that a mini Madrid summit be convened, echoing the request of Syria, which did not attend. But Mr Mubarak later dismissed the idea, saying that yet another conference was unnecessary.

The absence of Syria was played down by the participants and much was made of a statement from Damascus supporting the peace process. Without Syria's involvement, however, the group faces an uphill challenge in the months ahead if it in tends to put its words into action.