The Arab Peace Initiative Committee and the international Quartet would meet in New York on December 15 in a bid to activate the stalled Middle East peace process, Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa said on Sunday.
The ministerial meeting would focus on means of paving the way for the resumption of political activities to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region, Moussa told reporters prior to departure to New York.
Although peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel resumed a year ago, there are obstacles "hampering the peace process and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State," the Egyptian MENA news agency quoted Moussa as saying.
Noting the situation in the occupied territories is still "abysmal," the AL chief said "It is reasonable to discuss political steps that should be taken in the coming stage."
Moussa also expressed his optimism on the role of US President-elect Barack Obama in advancing the Mideast peace process.
In a letter delivered to Obama earlier this month, Moussa said that Arab countries were ready to reach a lasting peace with Israel based on an Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
"The Arab side is ready to establish a just and lasting peace with Israel in line with the land-for-peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions," Moussa affirmed in a statement.
The Saudi-proposed Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders in exchange for a comprehensive peace with the Arab world, was approved by the Arab Summit held in Lebanon in 2002 and re-endorsed in March by Arab countries.