Academy closed during peace conference

Academy closed during peace conference
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 26, 2007 10:39:43 EST

The Naval Academy will be closed to the public Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of a peace conference that will be attended by Israeli president Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.

Representatives of 39 other nations, the European Union, and the Arab League have also been invited to the conference, which the Washington Post has reported will take place in a ceremonial hall inside a Naval Academy building that houses more than 4,000 midshipmen.

Midshipmen will attend classes both days, but a statement released by the Naval Academy said restrictions would be placed on “certain Naval Academy facilities” during the conference.

“This conference will signal international support for the Israelis’ and Palestinians’ intention to commence negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of peace between these two peoples,” President Bush said in a statement Sunday. “It will also provide an opportunity for the Israelis, the Palestinians, and their neighbors to recommit to implementing the Roadmap, with the U.S. monitoring their progress by the parties’ agreement. Finally, the conference will review Palestinian plans to build the institutions of a democratic state and their preparations for next month’s donors’ conference in Paris.”

Naval Academy officials declined to comment on the conference except to issue a brief statement from superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler.

“We are honored that the Naval Academy has been chosen as the setting for the Annapolis Conference,” the statement read.


Article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/navy_academy_closure_071126w/