Peres: Annapolis succeeded impossibly despite skepticism

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
The impossible happened at Annapolis, President Shimon Peres told reporters on Thursday. "Many people thought it would end with nothing, but from the impossible, we achieved something," he said - adding, however, that "there is still a long way to go, and it won't be simple." He noted that "the meeting in Annapolis wound up a success in the face of a great deal of skepticism and disappointment. It was a political success for the United States and for President [George W.] Bush, and the two leaders of the delegations did a good job. They were well prepared, and they showed a great deal of flexibility." Peres said this was only an opening and that both sides would have to work very hard in order to achieve a peace agreement, but for Israel it was important because Israel had "won both time and identification. The attendance was a demonstration by a better part of the world to bring the conflict to an end."