(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this morning (Wednesday), 14 November 2707, held a working meeting with EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, mainly on preparations for the Annapolis meeting. The two men discussed scenarios ahead of and after the international meeting. Sr. Solana thanked the Prime Minister for his efforts to advance the peace process.
Prime Minister Olmert briefed his guest on the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and on the steps that he intends to take ahead of the meeting. He referred to Israel's insistence that the foundation for the post-Annapolis negotiations with the Palestinians be recognition of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish People. The Prime Minister made it clear that from Israel's point-of-view, this issue is not subject to either negotiations or discussion.
EU envoy Solana noted that the EU will be represented at the Annapolis meeting and cited the efforts being made to enable more moderate Arab countries to attend the meeting, which he sees as very important.
The two men also discussed various regional issues.