France and the U.S. Consult on way forward for Middle East Peace

11 January 2010

U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, former senator George Mitchell, came to Paris on Monday January 11, in order to meet with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, and national security advisor Jean-David Levitte before travelling to Brussels.  In the Belgian capital he will participate in the next meeting of the Quartet, ( U.S., EU, UN and Russia), to advance the Middle East Process. 

President Obama has consistently voiced his commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.  That includes resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  To that end, the United States continues to pursue comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.  We define comprehensive peace as peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and the full normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab states.  To learn more about U.S. policy on Middle East peace, see http://www.state.gov/s/middleeastpeace/index.htm.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy Mitchell focused on the importance of close collaboration between Europe and the United States.  Minister Kouchner also emphasized the importance of collaboration.  To watch the press conference (in French and English) on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, click here and follow the link:  http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/.