State Department says Obama’s Mideast peace envoy will return to the region next week
By APWednesday, September 2, 2009
Obama envoy to resume talks in Mideast next week
WASHINGTON — The State Department says former Sen. George Mitchell, who is the Obama administration’s special envoy for Mideast peace, will return to the region next week for another round of talks aimed at setting the stage for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
Mitchell met in New York on Wednesday with an envoy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Ministry’s chief of staff.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the talks went well, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to a comprehensive Mideast peace settlement. Kelly gave no indication of specific progress.
Kelly said the U.S. looks forward to continuing the discussion when Mitchell visits the Mideast late next week.
