MIDDLE EAST: France proposes five-stage peace plan

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

CAIRO, Apr 12 2003 (IPS) - French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is currently visiting Egypt, has proposed a five-stage peace plane for the Middle East settlement.

Speaking at Cairo’s Institute of International Studies on Saturday, he said determining ways for creating a Palestinian state starting in 2005 is the first stage.

The second stage would be a truce between Israel and Palestine. It may be followed by a referendum for both nations to confirm their commitment to peace.

The fourth stage could be an international conference on the Middle East, to be followed by the proclamation of the Palestinian state.

De Villepin’s plan largely coincides with proposals worked out jointly by Russia, the United States, the UN and the European Union.