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France to hold Middle East peace conference on June 3: FM

Xinhua, May 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

France has set an international conference to revive peace talks in the Middle East for June, initially scheduled for the end of this month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on Thursday.

The France-led initiative aims to "reaffirm the mobilization of the international community in favor of the two-state solution and to identify ways to help Israelis and Palestinians to return to the path of peace," the French top diplomat added.

Earlier this week, French President Francois Hollande said the gathering would be delayed as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cannot come on that date.

Ayrault added that Middle East Quartet (the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations), many Arab allies and European partners would attend the Paris conference.

The Israeli and Palestinian sides would not initially participate at the due summit.

The last round of peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian authorities broke down in April 2014 after the two sides failed to resolve their deep disputes on Israeli settlements, Palestinian state borders and security. Endit