Foreign Minister Kanerva discussed the goals for Annapolis in his meetings in the Middle East

On Wednesday, 21 November, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva met in Ramallah Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malk and Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad. The Palestinian Authority hoped for a significant EU contribution by the side of the United States, particularly at the stage when the implementation of the results of the Annapolis meeting begins. On Thursday, Kanerva will meet his Israeli colleague Tzipi Livni.

Minister Ilkka Kanerva met Israel´s president Shimon Peres during his visit to the Middle East. Foreign Minister Kanerva's trip to the Middle East on 20-22 November is the Minister’s first one to the region and takes place at a time that is of great importance as far as restarting the peace process is concerned. The discussions have mainly focused on the prospects and further measures of the Middle East Peace Talks, to be held in Annapolis, USA, next week.

The meeting with Kanerva is the last Foreign Minister meeting of Israel’s Tzipi Livni before his departure for the meeting in the USA on Saturday.

The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister Al-Malk and minister Kanerva met in Ramallah. During the discussions with the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister Al-Malk and Prime Minister Fayyad, the ministers have also taken a more comprehensive look at the political situation of the region as well as the internal division between the Palestinians. The Paris Conference, to be held in December, is an important milestone in strengthening the commitment of the international donor community to supporting the Palestinian Authority. Finland is also in the process of preparing its participation in the Paris Conference.

In addition, when in Ramallah, Kanerva also visited the civilian crisis management operation EUPOL COPPS. The purpose of the operation is to train Palestinian police forces. At the moment, there is one police expert funded by Finland involved in the operation.

In Israel, Kanerva met on Wednesday, 21 November, President Shimon Peres and Minister of Welfare and Social Services Isaac Herzog, who just recently visited Finland. In their discussions, Peres and Kanerva mostly concentrated on the peace process and the preparations for the Annapolis meeting. The talks also emphasised the importance of closer bilateral relations between Finland and Israel and the diverse opportunities this could offer.

With Minister Herzog Kanerva discussed, for instance, the internal policy of Israel, the chances of success of the peace process, and the political situation in the Middle East.