French FM: Israeli-Palestinian peace deal unlikely this year

CAIRO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said here Saturday that an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is not likely to be reached by the end of the year. Kouchner made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier in the day, the state MENA news agency reported. However, Kouchner said the European Union (EU) and France will continue to support the U.S. efforts to push forward the Mideast peace process. The EU's role in the international Quartet, which also groups Russia, the United Nations and the United States, and its contribution to the projects in the Palestinian... [read full story]