DHAKA: Israeli president Shimon Peres said Sunday he would be prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, even though their two countries consider each other arch-enemies.

Asked at an economic forum over a possible meeting, Peres replied, ‘Why not? I don’t have enemies. It’s not a question of personalities but of policies’.

‘The aim is to transform enemies into friends,’ said the president, whose role in Israel is symbolic and ceremonial.

Peres also recalled that ‘there was a time that we did not meet, for example, with (Palestinian leader) Yasser Arafat’, until his Palestine Liberation Organisation recognised Israel, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1743 HRS, DEC 08, 2013