Bush : Outlines of Palestinian state can be defined by end of year

Washington (ANTARA News) - Even if Israeli and Palestinian leaders do not reach a peace deal by the end of 2008, there could be "an agreement on what a Palestinian state will look like," US President George W Bush told Israeli television.

"I`m optimistic that we can have the outlines of a state defined," he was quoted by DPA as telling Channel 2 News in an interview broadcast Sunday night. "I`m optimistic because I believe (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert and (Palestinian) President (Mahmoud) Abbas want to achieve this objective."

Olmert and Abbas pledged at the Annapolis conference in November to try reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of this year.

But negotiating teams from both sides who have met to try to start the talkss have so far made no progress.

Bush, who arrives Wednesday for a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian areas, said he thought the fact that he was "a known quantity" to Olmert and Abbas could prove a spur to progress.

"I believe the leaders know me, and I know them. ... They`re comfortable with me. ... Therefore, the question is, will they decide to make the effort necessary to get the deal done while I`m president. Maybe the next person won`t agree with the two-state solution, maybe the next person will take a while to get moving," he told interviewer Yonit Levi.

Bush said that Abbas, who is locked in political battle with the Hamas movement, which rejects a two-state solution to the conflict, had to be able to show gains from the diplomatic process with Israel.

"Abbas, who has agreed that Israel has a right to exist, must be able to say to his people, `Be for me, support me, and this is what can happen. If you follow the way of the terrorists and killers, this will never happen,`" Bush said.

Addressing the subject of Iran`s nuclear ambitions, Bush said that if he were Israeli, he would "take the words of the Iranian president very seriously," and said he did so as well.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, and Jerusalem regards Tehran`s nuclear programme as a prime strategic threat.

"Iran was a threat, and Iran is a threat," he said, and warned that if Tehran attacked Israel, "We will defend our ally - no ands, ifs or buts."

The Iranian issue is expected to figure prominently in Bush`s talks with Israeli leaders during his upcoming visit. (*)

President asks ministers to remain focused on tasks

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a plenary cabinet meeting here on Monday asked all his ministers, those with professional as well as political backgrounds, to remain focused on their respective tasks, a spokesman said.

"And all the ministers, those with professional as well as political backgrounds, declared their readiness to carry out their state duties properly in line with the president`s directives and guidelines," presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said.

Speaking at a press conference after the cabinet meeting at the presidential office here on Monday, Andi said the people should not be worried that with the 2009 general elections now only less than two years ahead, many cabinet ministers would not be able to function as they should because their attention would shift to preparations to face the poll.

Andi said the people should now not be worried because the administration would continue to run in the best possible way as the ministers had expressed their commitment to keep on performing their tasks properly.

A number of political observers had expressed worry that many ministers, especially those from political parties, might not be able to focus on their tasks as they would be preoccupied with preparations for the 2009 general elections.

Among those present at the cabinet meeting were former Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto and new TNI Chief General Djoko Santoso. On the occasion, the head of state gave Djoko Suyanto, the outgoing TNI chief, an opportunity to say farewell. The President also expressed his gratitude to Djoko Suyanto for his dedication and hard work during his tenure.

The transfer of duties from Marshal Djoko Suyanto to General Djoko Santoso is scheduled to take place at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap on Tuesday (Jan. 8).(*)

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