The meeting offered an opportunity to
reflect onthe successes and failures
of the Madrid process.It provided an
excellent opportunity to reignite an
interest among participants in moving
forward on the challenges emanating
from the conflicts in the region,
as well as an opportunity forcivil
society and officials to interact
and exchange perspectives on the
common goalof the conference.
o We had a frank debate on where the Middle
East stands today on outstanding issues in
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
o We heard an honest exchange of views on '
concerns, constraints, and opportunities
on issues between Israel, Syria, Lebanon
and Palestine as well as the regional
approach.
There is a need to reassert firmly the spirit
of Madrid 1991:
a spirit of compromise and reason and an
approachthat is regionalin scope. While
the region haschanged in the past 15 years,
the spirit of Madrid 1991 and subsequent
efforts such as the Clinton Peace Parameters,
the Arab League Peace Initiativeof 2002 and
the Road map remain a basis upon which to bridge
the remaining differences and assist in creating
the political will tragically missing today.
o There is a clear sense of urgency in this
challenge. Participants discouraged interim
agreements as a negotiated destination and
called for an immediate return to negotiations
towards a final and expedient comprehensive
regional agreement.
o Participants reached a general consensus on
the need for international engagement to seize
the opportunity of this meeting and push the
process forward. Many encouraged states to
convene an official international peace
conference for the region of the Near East,
in the “spirit of Madrid”.
o A recommendation was made for a follow-up
meeting to explore ways the participants
can move towards these goals. A steering
group should be formed to guide the process.
In this regard, the organizers of
“Madrid +15” will be in touch with the
participants.