SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Feb 8 (AFP) - A landmark Middle East peace summit has put the "wheel of peace" back on the right track, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Tuesday.
Mubarak hailed what he said was a "positive spirit" between Israel and the Palestinians and said he hoped it would lead to an "honest and serious" implementation of the roadmap peace plan.
"This meeting is an important stop and long-awaited positive development," Mubarak said after talks featuring Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
"They have met to work together with determination to turn the page on difficult years during which innocent people were killed, blood was shed and destruction prevailed.
"We are meeting here to put an end to this cyle (of violence), to put things back in order and to put the wheel of peace on the right track.
"The task is very great, but our hopes are are greater."
He also said he hoped for a resumption of the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks with Israel which have also been frozen for several years.
02/08/2005 12:58 GMT - AFP