Bush, Abbas vow to keep working on Mideast peace process

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush met with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas vowed here on Thursday to continue working on the settlement of Palestinian-Israel conflict before Bush's departure from office early next year.

"I've got four more months left in office, and I'm hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on will come to pass," Bush said of the Middle East peace process while having talks with Abbas at the White House.

Expressing his appreciation of Abbas' determination to build a Palestinian state, Bush said that the United States will continue its cooperation with the Palestinian leader on security matters.

"We're working hard with you on helping the international community help you get the economy going in the West Bank," he said.

In response, Abbas said that the Palestinian Authorities will "continue to keep the hope alive in order to reach a political solution for our issue and for the Middle East."

"Hope will remain, Mr. President. We cannot live without hope. We will continue to work to achieve and realize that hope," the Palestinian leader noted.

Under the auspices of Bush, Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revived their peace talks in September 2007 after a seven-year suspension. The two sides set a goal of reaching a final peace accord by the end of 2008.

However, little tangible progress has since been achieved, leading to lowering expectations for the two neighbors to realize the ambitious goal.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said in New York on Tuesday that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are unlikely to reach a peace deal before next year.

"Apparently we shall not conclude it by the end of the year but we do believe we made a little progress, and there is a very fair chance to conclude it during the next year," Peres told reporters while attending the annual ministerial meeting of the UN General Assembly.