NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has voiced cautious optimism over the future of the Middle East peace process.

Speaking on Thursday, Scheffer said positive and clear moves had emerged in the Palestinian territories after the election of Mahmoud Abbas as the new chairman of the Palestinian National Authority.

He added that the whole world was paying close attention to the restoration of the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The top NATO official said people in the region should be the core of the process rather than governments.

Scheffer also urged concerned parties to seize the current opportunities in a bid to play a direct political role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

Source: Xinhua