Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called Tuesday for "comprehensive and deep" negotiation on all final status issues at a Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
"Tomorrow, we have to start comprehensive and deep negotiations on all issues of final status, including Jerusalem, refugees, borders, settlements, water and security and others," Abbas said at the opening ceremony.
The Palestinian leader said that he appreciated the Annapolis conference, an opportunity for peace between Palestinians and Israelis that "will not repeat itself."
He also expressed gratitude to Arab states, Muslim countries and the international community for granting such an "exceptional opportunity" to Palestinians and Israelis to "seize" efforts for peace.
More than 50 countries and organizations -- including some 16 Arab nations -- will attend the Annapolis conference on Tuesday, which is seen as a new round of U.S. efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks seven years after the last one with the aim at the creation of a Palestinian state by January, 2009 when Bush's second term ends.
A joint Israeli-Palestinian document was released as the conference commenced that outlines future negotiations between two countries to find a final solution to the Middle East conflict.
"In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral (negotiations) in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements," it says.
"We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."
However, Abbas noted in the speech that he will not make compromise on his demand that East Jerusalem be named the capital of any future Palestinian state. Nor will he loosen his stance for Israel to dismantle its outposts in the West Bank.
"I must defend the right of our people to see a new dawn," Abbas said.
He also called for the release of Palestinian prisoners, the lifting of roadblocks and the removal of what he called the "separation wall" surrounding the West Bank.
Source:Xinhua
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