U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in remarks closing the Annapolis conference on the Middle East on Tuesday, voiced measured optimism for Middle East peace and announced Israeli and Palestinians leaders will launch formal peace negotiations at the White House on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas have been invited by U.S. President George W. Bush to go to the White House on Wednesday "to inaugurate those negotiations," Rice said.

While admitting the Middle East peace process will be difficult, Rice said the fact that it is difficult does not mean it is not impossible.

Rice, who has visited the Middle East many times this year to promote peace in the region, also urged countries in the Middle East region as well as the international community to help push forward the long-stalled peace process.

Rice made the remarks at the closing of the one-day conference attended by the representatives of nearly 50 countries, regions and international organizations.

The conference was proposed by Bush in July. It was the first major international conference on the Middle East sponsored by the Bush administration in seven years.