Israel, Jerusalem/corr. Trend R. Abdullayev/ "The time allotted for the peace process between Israel and Palestine is quickly slipping away. We only have a year which is not enough time to reach peace," The Israeli President Shimon Peres said on 13 January during the Conference of Geneva Agreement in Gertseliya, MIGNEWS reports.
"Both Prime Minister Olmert and the head of the Palestinian Autonomy want peace," the president said. Though discussions on key issues between Israel and Palestine are fixed for 14 January, Peres attempted not to show great enthusiasm in regard to this. "No one will solve the key issues in the initial stage of the negotiations. There is agreement over the large majority of issues; however it is difficult to draw up a written agreement. I am not surprised that the Palestinians are insisting upon their demands as we do," the President said.
"We have a year which is a very limited time. We cannot waste time talking. We must hold negotiations both openly and secretly and not waste a minute. I think that transition from initial positions to temporary agreements will take a lot of time and several months," the president said.
"The American president, George W Bush said when he was here: 'I am your best friend. I will do as you wish, but I should remind you that time is limited. Talks will be to no avail. If you think that it is time to move forward it means that it is high time to do this. Time is the most critical thing' ", the president stated.
Addressing the political arena, the president said: "Ideological arguments are not appropriate here since the Right also wants to establish two governments. The problem is that we cannot reach peace."
"The difference between business and political negotiations is that in business negotiations you stick to the same views as the opposite side while during political negotiations you stick to your own views," Peres said.
On January 14 the Foreign Minister of Israel Tsipi Livni, the head of the Israeli side in the negotiations will meet with the former Prime minister of Palestine Ahmad Kurei to discuss key issues including the Jerusalem problem, problems of the population, Palestinian refuges, borders, security and water resources.