Abbas says does not plan to delay Palestinian vote
Reuters
Date: 05-25-05
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday he has no plans to delay a July 17 parliamentary election "unless there are legal reasons," despite receiving support for a postponement from members of the U.S. Congress.
On his first visit to the United States as president of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas met members of Congress and briefed them on security and administrative reforms demanded by a U.S.-backed road map for peace.
Abbas asked the American lawmakers to help strengthen the Palestinian Authority's drive to fight corruption and end violence through concrete steps to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and not just verbal expressions of support.
In the West Bank of Ramallah a senior Palestinian official said it would be difficult to hold elections on time on July 17 because of a dispute between lawmakers in the ruling Fatah faction and Abbas over electoral reforms.
The militant group Hamas, wants the vote to be held on time. A delay could increase tensions between Fatah and Hamas and threaten to disrupt a fragile cease-fire agreed in March.
Hamas did well in recent municipal elections, raising concerns in Fatah and among some Arab states who fear a strong Hamas showing in the coming elections could jeopardise peace moves with Israel.
Abbas told members of the House International Relations Committee that despite their support for postponing the vote, he plans to call for elections as scheduled.
But he left the door open to a possible delay by adding that he was looking at the elections "through the Central Elections Committee to determine what the best course of action is, but until today the date of election is July 17."
Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the senior Democrat on the International Relations Committee, said after the meeting with Abbas: "I told him he would get full support from the Congress if circumstances would necessitate postponing the elections."
Lantos said U.S. lawmakers were not sure free and fair elections could be guaranteed by July "because Abbas has been in power only four months and it's a complex, turbulent, faction-ridden situation."
ABBAS WANTS DIRECT U.S. FINANCIAL AID
During his meetings on Capitol Hill, Abbas said his government has taken wide steps on financial reform and transparency.
He asked Congress to help channel aid directly through the Palestinian Finance Ministry rather than through nongovernmental organisations and third parties.
"Why in spite of all the reforms and all the changes, the United States continues to hold back money from the Palestinian Authority," said Abbas.
"Here two seats down from me is sitting the Palestinian Finance Minister who has transparency and accountability, why are they not directing funds straight through the Finance Ministry instead of going around us?" he asked. "This way you undermine the Palestinian Authority rather than help it."
A senior Palestinian official told Reuters they had asked the White House to approve sending aid directly to the Palestinian Authority and "they told us they are working on a formula and would respond on Thursday in the Bush-Abbas White House meeting."
The United States has provided $200 million for the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority this year and President George W. Bush has asked for another $150 million for the fiscal year starting October 1.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States has already made substantial commitments for financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority and Japan had recently made a significant pledge as well.
"Our democracy will break if we don't have freedom and your support," Abbas told members of Congress.
"It was pointed out to the president everyone in the room wanted him to succeed. We believe his intentions are good...he was well received," said Lantos.
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