SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Mr. Acting President, thank you for coming here today and lending your support to this important process. As you can see, all of the participants here today have committed themselves to working towards Middle East peace.

They have emphasized the importance of making the negotiations work, for they understand that the only solution to the conflict is a political solution. They have laid out a vision of ending this conflict through dialogue and cooperation. They have all recognized this opportunity must be seized to transform a landscape that has known too much violence and pain into an area of hope and reconciliation.

I believe our work here today is not only important for promoting peace in the Middle East, but should also be a model for all of us who seek to end difficult and painful conflicts. As we said in Istanbul, conflicts within states, as well as those between states, threaten our common security. And I think as you discuss the very important roles of international organizations in bringing about peace and security in the 21^st Century, I believe there is a very important role that the OSCE can play in helping to resolve a variety of conflicts within countries.

I thank you again very much for your statement and your vision for the 21^st Century.