Focus shifts to globe's trouble spots

NEW YORK -- The Middle East and Northern Ireland took center stage at the World Economic Forum on Sunday, as key players in two of the globe's most intractable conflicts expressed hope that they could work toward peace.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said he saw "a ray of hope" for Mideast peace on the fourth day of the forum, while key players in the peace effort for Northern Ireland said they were pleased with the disarmament process.

Peres welcomed an opinion piece by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Sunday's New York Times, saying it marked the first time in 16 months of fighting that he indicated a readiness to discuss key issues and expressed determination "to put an end" to the activities of terrorist organizations attacking Israeli civilians.

"I believe that despite all the very pessimistic views, there is also a ray of hope," he said.

Cease-fire possible

New talks with the Palestinians could lead to a cease-fire, Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state and Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist, Peres said. And eventually a final settlement could be reached on the most contentious issues of borders, refugees, settlements and Jerusalem, he added.

"The plan that we are now discussing is stop the war, then recognize immediately the establishment of a Palestinian state," Peres said, but he added that Arafat must first stop suicide attacks on Israelis.

In Israel on Sunday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced he would continue cease-fire talks begun last week with the Palestinians.

But some critics interpreted the comments by Sharon and Arafat largely as public relations efforts by a pair of leaders facing mounting difficulties. Israel has confined Arafat to the West Bank town of Ramallah for the past two months, and the United States has demanded that the Palestinian leader do more to crack down on militants.

About 2,700 participants at the five-day economic forum -- ranging from corporate leaders to celebrities -- are discussing U.S. foreign policy, its possible role in breeding terrorism and the down side of globalization. The topics are fodder for protesters, who continued the demonstrations with a march supporting animal rights Sunday afternoon.

The panel on Northern Ireland was moderated by George Mitchell, a former U.S. senator who helped broker a 1998 peace agreement.

David Trimble, leader of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government, said he is glad to see that the disarming of militants is under way.