Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan has expressed Pakistan s support for the US initiative toward resolution of decades-old Middle East conflict, and hoped that the international conference at Annapolis would become a turning point in search for a just solution of Palestine and enduring peace in the region. We fully support the initiative. Much will depend on the follow-up. It remains our hope that Annapolis will become a historic turning point in the search for a just solution of Palestine and for bringing enduring peace in the Middle East, Khan, who represented Pakistan at the moot said, according to an official statement. He reaffirmed Pakistan s strong and longstanding commitment to the Palestinian cause, restoration of all occupied Arab territories and the establishment of an independent State in their own homeland. Pakistan, the foreign secretary, also supports all sincere efforts and initiatives in that direction especially the Beirut Declaration of Arab League. He appreciated efforts by President George Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that have helped to launch this new initiative in the establishment of the joint understanding. The important statements that have been made in support of the initiative also reflect a new resolve by the international community to address the Palestinian issue, he added. Khan noted the understanding reached at the conference, attended by more than 40 countries, clearly calls for establishment of a Palestinian state and promises to address all final status issue. At the same time, the foreign secretary underlined that it is important that progression in this initiative and the peace process is not allowed to be derailed for any reason or by any incident. We must adhere to the time-line of 2008. The end of the Palestinian tragedy will calm the conflict and turbulent environment in the Middle East and beyond. It will remove the principal impulse for violence in the region. Khan noted that the Annapolis understanding between the parties has all the ingredients for an auspicious beginning: It proposes to draw upon all other initiatives and promises to address the issue comprehensively. It contemplates Syrian and Lebanese tracks in addition to addressing the Palestinian issue. It clearly calls for the establishment of a Palestinian State and promises to address all final status issues. Importantly, it has a time-line for reaching a comprehensive agreement by end-2008.It has a mechanism in the establishment of a steering committee.
