Prague  - Israeli President Shimon Peres after a meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus in Prague on Monday said he was hopeful for a successful conclusion to peace talks with the Palestinians this year.

Peres added that he expected "definite advances" in Israel's relations with its Arab neighbours.

Klaus stressed that politics was not about ideology but compromise.

The two presidents provided no details of their talks and sidestepped the issue of the new Israeli government that was to be sworn in on Tuesday.

Klaus and Peres were to visit the former Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt on Tuesday. Peres would also meet with former Czech president Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek before concluding his visit.

An EU-Israel summit planned late last year for the Czech EU presidency was no longer under discussion due to the ongoing domestic political turmoil in Prague, diplomatic sources said. (dpa)