Former United States National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski talks to the press at a seminar held in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. [Photo Zhou Jing, China.org.cn]

In a wide ranging talk to the press in Beijing, United States elder statesman Zbigniew Brzezinski criticized Bush Administration policy on the Middle East and the war on terror, predicted Barack Obama would adopt a multilateralist foreign policy, and said the Taiwan problem would be solved by history.

Dr Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor to US President Jimmy Carter, and one of the key actors in negotiations that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China, was attending a seminar held to celebrate 30 years of formal relations between the two countries.

Bush policy on the Middle East

Asked about the crisis in Gaza, Dr Brzezinski urged the United States to give full backing to the recent resolution of the United Nations Security Council calling for a ceasefire. He accused the Bush administration of pursuing a failed policy in the region, and condemned the US decision to abstain on the resolution

"The abstention was the ultimate act of abdication of responsibility by the Bush administration regarding a policy in the region which it had pursued and which had failed."

"I hope this conflict is brought to an end because it is posing the threat that the pursuit of a two state formula will become increasingly unattainable because the Palestinians, not just in Gaza but also in the West Bank, are going to be increasingly motivated by a seething hatred for the Israelis."

Dr Brzezinski regretted the Israelis had made no simultaneous moves to improve the situation of moderate Palestinians, such as the release of a significant number of political prisoners, a genuine freeze on the construction of settlements on the West Bank; and the elimination of West Bank roadblocks.

"Not doing any of that while blasting the hell out of the Gazans simply stimulates more hatred among the Palestinians, threatens the stability of the Egyptian government, and makes the attainment of a larger peaceful resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict more difficult."