Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that the two-state solution was the basis for negotiations with Israel.

Abbas made the remarks at a press conference following his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier in the day to discuss the latest developments on the Palestinian issue, Egypt 's official MENA news agency reported.

The talks between Mubarak and Abbas also dealt with efforts to revive the peace process and realizing inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

Abbas said that an agreement was reached between him and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on holding a summit meeting shortly. "Olmert did not say he would boycott me," he said.

Abbas noted that the Arab countries had welcomed the Mecca agreement signed between the Palestinian rival factions of Fatah and Hamas on Feb. 8 in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on forming a national unity government.

Moreover, Abbas praised the French stance on the Mecca agreement. French President Jacques Chirac on Saturday vowed to support a coalition Palestinian government and persuade the European Union to move in that direction.

Abbas and Mubarak also discussed the outcome of Abbas' recent Arab and European tour aimed at rallying support for the Palestinian unity government and revival of the peace process, as well as the trilateral meeting between Abbas, Olmert and U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice on Feb. 19 in Jerusalem.

Abbas, who arrived in Cairo on Sunday, will also pay a visit to the United Arab Emirates before returning to Ramallah in the West Bank.

Source: Xinhua