BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- France wants to speed up the "roadmap" peace plan and start discussions on the final status of the Palestinian territories without delay.

France wants to speed up the "roadmap" peace plan and start discussions on the final status of the Palestinian territories without delay.

    French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters that Europeans are united behind pursuing the peace process, not only with giving money.

    Barnier said that, beyond the disengagement of Gaza, France suggests speeding up the agenda scheduled by the roadmap, by immediately starting discussions on final status and limiting the transition periods.

    He added that his hopes that the international conference previously initiated by France should be held as soon as possible so as to benefit from this "window of opportunity".

    The French foreign minister, who is to visit Washington Wednesday for his first bilateral visit since his nomination on March 31, reaffirmed that the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the "test" of a restarting of transatlantic ties.

    (Source:CRIENGLISH.com)