Peres believes peace is still possible

Israeli President Shimon Peres assured on Wednesday that reaching a peace agreement is still possible, adding that he is still in contact with Palestinian officials. Peres said that both parties must realize that returning to negotiations before the UN General Assembly in September 2011 is vital. Israel Radio reports that Peres was speaking a US Democratic Congressmen delegation and that a member of that delegation, Steny Hoyer, said that he believes that the U.S. will veto any Palestinian attempt to receive UN recognition of statehood. He added that negotiations without preconditions are the only way for peace to be achieved.