[Briefly]

◆U.S. Opposes Call for Unilateral Palestinian State 

The United States said on Monday that the best way to establish an independent Palestinian state is to stick to negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis.

"We support the creation of a Palestinian state ... But we think that the best way to achieve that is through negotiations by the two parties," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.

"We are convinced that has to be achieved through negotiations between two parties. We support a Palestinian state that arrives as a result of negotiations between two parties."

Kelly made the remarks when the Palestinian authorities reportedly have asked the European Union to back their plan to have the UN Security Council recognize an independent Palestinian state.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Sunday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the United States are holding contacts to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that have been stalled for nearly a year, adding that the PNA is working to snatch UN recognition of a Palestinian statehood.

◆EU FMs Agree to Proceed with Albania's EU Membership Bid

Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) on Monday agreed to proceed with Albania's bid to become a member of the 27-nation bloc, but it's only the initial step for the country to be formally admitted as a member of the EU.

The next step is for the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, to decide whether the Balkan country is ready to start the membership talks.

After being allowed to start the talks, the country can become an official candidate and then it needs a series of political and economic reforms to meet the standards set by the EU.

In a report released last month, the European Commission has urged Albania and other Western Balkan countries such as Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro to conduct further political or social reforms in order to come close toward the 27-nation bloc.

"The Council reaffirms that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union," said a statement released by the ministers who are convening a two-day meeting here.

"It is noted that a country's satisfactory track-record in implementing its obligations under a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), including trade related provisions, is an essential element for the EU to consider any membership application," the statement added.

The EU signed the SAA with Albania on June 12, 2006 and the agreement entered into force on April 1, 2009. And on April 28, 2009, Albanian President Bamir Topi and Prime Minister Sali Berisha presented the country's application for EU membership.

◆France, Iraq Sign Cooperation Pacts on Defense, Science

French and Iraqi ministers signed two cooperation agreements on defense and culture and science in Paris on Monday, the first day of the visit by an Iraqi delegation headed by President Jalal Talabani.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Talabani had nearly one hour of talks in the Elysee Palace, where defense ministers and foreign ministers of both countries inked the above pacts respectively, local media reported.

"We would like to reinforce and deepen the relations between our two countries in domains of politics, military affairs, culture, oil industry, economy and commerce," Talabani told reporters following his talks with Sarkozy.

While having dinner with Talabani, Sarkozy expressed hope that Iraq would have a new future.

"I see the future with confidence and optimism. Iraq is on the right track. Iraqi people regained the control of their destiny," Sarkozy said. "Although the terrorists continue to raise attacks, the violence sharply diminished."

Sarkozy reiterated that the invasion of Iraq in 2003 led by the United Stated had violated the Charter of the United Nations.

According to French Ambassador to Iraq Boris Boillon, another two economic contracts are expected to be signed during the four-day visit of Talabani. They will allow access for French Agency of Development, a public institution providing development financing, and La Coface, a French commercial insurance company, to Iraq.

According to French analysts, France needs an aiding center in Iraq to help French entrepreneurs who are interested in making investment in Iraq, as well as provide supports to French research in agriculture and archaeology in the country. 

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