RAMALLAH, West Bank, 17 September 2007 — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert downplayed yesterday media reports that he had reached an “agreement of principles” with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the US-hosted peace conference this fall. Olmert said however that he and Abbas might issue a “joint declaration” at the conference. “We are discussing a joint declaration that we hope will be the centerpiece of the international peace conference in Washington in November,” Olmert said during a meeting with ministers of his Kadima party.
“I read media reports suggesting that we have reached an agreement of principles and that we only need to polish it. When we reach a declaration I will inform the government as I do not plan to keep it secret. There is a difference between an agreement of principles and a declaration,” he said.
“The question is: what will be the content of the joint declaration? Since its establishment, this government has been jumping at every opportunity in order to bring about peace. Before the elections we stated that were heading for a political initiative, and what we are doing today does not contradict what we said before the elections,” Olmert added.
