British ambassador to the United States Sir Nigel Sheinwald address the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, January 15, 2008:
“Over the past eighteen months, the regional picture in the Middle East has changed a great deal, and for the better, with the international community reuniting around a common agenda in support of the new Iraq, on the Middle East peace process, and in Lebanon. Our task in 2008 is to seize this moment of opportunity by:
"One, consolidating the success of the surge in Iraq and the new international consensus, encouraging national political reconciliation and strengthening the people’s capacity to take responsibility for their own security and political future.
Two, building on the Annapolis summit to take major steps toward a just and lasting peace on the Arab-Israeli front, which will give the Palestinians their own independent state and lead to a secure Israel, accepted by the Arab world.
Three, making our diplomatic efforts toward Syria and Iran more vigorous and effective, to bring home to both countries that they face a strategic choice between further defiance of international norms and further sanctions and isolation, or cooperation with the international community and the political and economic benefits that would follow.”