Arabs "extremely disappointed" by peace process: Moussa

PARIS, December 19, SPA -- Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr
Moussa, has affirmed that the Arab world was "extremely disappointed"
with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process since the Annapolis
conference a year ago, and he called for "a real solution" to resolve
this conflict in 2009.


Speaking at the first "Franco-Euro-Arab" forum at the Arab World
Institute (IMA) here Thursday evening, Moussa expressed frustration
at the slow speed in the process, as well as the ongoing Israeli
policy of building settlements and the lack of understanding of this
core issue.

"We have not achieved palpable progress, " he told forum
participants, who included French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner
and Commissioner for European Foreign Relations and Neighbor Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Moussa wondered in his speech if the problem with the peace process
was "not enough mediators, or maybe too many," and he warned that
"traps are being multiplied," which are blocking progress.

"A lot of people don't understand the scope of the settlement
policy, " he cautioned. "We need a real solution to this problem."

He complained that the Israeli side was not making the required
efforts to seek compromise and bring about a lasting peace, according
to a report of Kuwaiti news agency "KUNA".

--SPA