Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said here Saturday that the main goal of the Annapolis conference held on Tuesday was to relaunch negotiations on the Palestinian-Israeli track, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
Speaking at a press conference following his talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Palestinian president said that joint committees were agreed at the conference to restart Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on Dec. 12, which would look into all issues including the final status ones namely Jerusalem, borders, settlements and refugees.
There will be a higher committee overseeing the negotiations while sub-committees each will be in charge of a certain topic of negotiations, Abbas elaborated, adding that former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei will answer for the talks.
He further disclosed that there will be two stations after Annapolis conference, "first in Paris then in Moscow," to review and follow up accomplishments of the negotiations that will begin this month."
However, the Palestinian president admitted that there is no guarantees for resuming the negotiations. But he noted that there are international institutions, world community, Arab and Islamic supports as well as a U.S. serious stance behind the talks.
Abbas also reiterated the Palestinians' commitment to peace requirements, while demanding Israel dose the same.
He asked Israel to stop settlement constructions in the Palestinian lands, return to pre-Sept. 28, 2000 borders, allow the repatriation of Palestinian refugees and return east Jerusalem.
The Palestinian president of secular Fatah reiterated at the press conference his no objection to relaunching dialogue with rival Islamic Hamas after the end of the "Gaza coup" by Hamas.
Abbas, leading a high-level delegation, arrived here Friday from a visit to Tunisia after attending the U.S.-host Annapolis conference. Amman of Jordan and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia are his next stops of his regional visit which aims at briefing and discussing the outcome of Annapolis conference with local leaders.
Initiated by U.S. President George W. Bush, the Annapolis conference brought together representatives of more than 40countries, regions and international organizations at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Tuesday in their fresh efforts to revive the long-stalled Mideast peace process.
Bush opened the Annapolis conference with reading a joint statement by the Israelis and Palestinians that the two sides agree "to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article