Brussels, 12/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In the conclusions document adopted by the European Council on 12 December 2008, European leaders say that the Middle East peace process is still one of the EU's main priorities for the following year. They explain that there is an urgent need for a fair, lasting and overarching peace settlement and the EU will do everything that is possible in practice and possible politically to enable the peace process to progress next year and reach a two state solution of two countries living alongside each other in peace and security. The EU27 backs the talks between Israel and Syria and, hopefully, between Israel and Lebanon. The European Council welcomes the attempts to get an Arab peace process moving, like the recent letter from Arab foreign ministers to the United States' President-elect Barack Obama. The new US Administration is urged to make the Middle East peace process an 'immediate and central' priority. (H.B. trans fl)