ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN, JUNE 17, SPA -- ISRAELI VICE PREMIER SHIMON PERES SAID SATURDAY THAT ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS WERE CLOSER TO PEACE THAN THEY’VE BEEN IN PAST 50 YEARS. «THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US IS THE SHORTEST IT’S BEEN FORTHE LAST 50 YEARS,» PERES SAID AT ONE-DAY SECURITY SUMMIT IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN. «THE DISTANCE IS VERY SHORT, BUT THE SPEED IS VERY SLOW.» PERES SAID RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON POLITICAL STUMBLING BLOCKS TO PEACE, THEY SHOULD TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO ECONOMIC ISSUES, WHICH MIGHT BE EASIER TO SOLVE AND COULD LEAD TO POLITICAL SOLUTIONS. «PERHAPS INSTEAD OF SOLVING THE POLITICAL BORDER ISSUE, WHY NOT TRY TO CONSTRUCT THE RELATIONSHIP ON THE BASIS OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS,» HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. «MAYBE WE CAN COME TO AN ECONOMIC PEACE BEFORE WE COME TO A POLITICAL PEACE. THEN MAYBE POLITICAL PEACE WILL COME LATER.» --SPA 17/06/2006 14:19 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/369286