Carter, 'Elders' meet with Hamas leader

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other world leaders met in Syria with exiled Hamas leaders to promote Arab-Israeli peace, officials said.

Carter, former Irish President Mary Robinson, former U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and Ela Bhatt, founder of the Self Employed Women's Association of India -- collectively part of a group called the "Elders" -- said they met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal Tuesday to discuss a "more comprehensive approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks," CNN reported Wednesday.

"A far greater sense of urgency is needed. People are tired after almost two decades of talks," Robinson said. "They keep telling us that there is too much focus on process and not enough on results. ... As Elders, we believe the two-state solution has the potential to deliver peace -- but a more energetic and comprehensive approach is needed.

The Elders -- an independent group of leaders brought together by former South African President Nelson Mandela in 2007 -- said they have heard repeatedly that expectations are low concerning the success of current U.S.-led talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

"One of the foundations of hope is to see things getting better, but things are not improving," Carter said. "How can you expect people without hope to believe in a better future?"

The Elders also asked Syrian President Bashar Assad to consider Syrian-Israeli peace, CNN reported.

"At same time, it is important that talks start when both sides are ready," the Elders' statement said. To start and fail repeatedly is not helpful to any process."