Pak, India invited to ME peace Summit

WASHINGTON—India and Pakistan are among the nearly 50 countries and international organizations that the Bush administration has invited to a Middle East peace conference next week to help Israel and Palestinians to revive the talks which collapsed seven years ago.
The US-sponsored conference is scheduled for November 26-28 in Annapolis, Maryland. ‘’The conference will signal broad international support for the Israeli and Palestinian leaders’ courageous efforts and will be a launching point for negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of Israeli-Palestinian peace,’’ State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said here.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will host a dinner the preceding evening in Washington, where President Bush will make a speech. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch, said the conference would offer an opportunity to initiate talks aimed at a wide-ranging peace plan for the Middle East. David Welch said, ‘’It is devoted to a serious purpose, that is the launch of negotiations toward a two-state solution and that has long been a request from the Arab countries and now they will see it being met.—Agencies