asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support President Sarkozy of France in his advocacy of creating a sovereign Palestinian state before the end of 2008. [HL2451]

As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has said, the bedrock of our approach on the Middle East peace process is threefold—first, to be unstinting in our support for the principle of a two-state solution with a viable state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel; secondly, to give every support to all those who are committed to peaceful progress in the region; and, thirdly, to support economic and social development across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We believe that the Annapolis process represents the best chance for peace since 2000 and it will be vital for the parties and the international community to work to ensure that 2008 is a year of progress.