Abbas seeks 'clear' US commitment to Palestinian state
AFP
Date: 05-25-05
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called for a "clear" US commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state as he prepared for talks with President George W. Bush on Thursday.
"As we have stated several times in the past, we want from the United States a clear political position for the implementation of the roadmap, as well as economic support," the Palestinian Authority president said after arriving in Washington late Tuesday.
"We hope to get this," added Abbas.
Ahead of his meeting with Bush, Abbas held talks Wednesday with Congress leaders and was later to have meetings with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Palestinians want the talks with Bush to focus on a greater commitment to the US-inspired roadmap to Middle East peace and securing greater financial assistance for the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinians would like the United States to insist that Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this year be carried out in line with the roadmap -- not instead of it.
The roadmap -- a phased plan that aims to create an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel -- was brokered by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, but has become deadlocked.
"We expect this visit to push foward the peace process and contribute to the success of efforts being deployed to that effect because we are facing major difficulties," said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina.
On economic matters, Abbas is expected to ask for annual US economic aid to the Palestinians to be channelled directly to the Palestinian Authority, rather than non-governmental organizations.
The United States has disbursed only a small portion of the 350 million dollars it earmarked this year for the Palestinian Authority, fearing the money would be siphoned off by corrupt officials.
The Palestinians would be looking for "political backing and urgent financial assistance" from Bush and hoping to turn "promises into realities," said the spokesman.
"This financial aid should go through the Palestinian Authority's finance ministry so it can determine the priorities for spending this money," he said.
The Palestinian leader is joined in Washington by his prime minister Ahmad Qorei, foreign minister Nasser Al-Qidwa and finance minister Salam Fayyad.
Meanwhile, Abbas also left open the possibility that the July 17 Palestinian elections could be postponed.
There will be no change in the election date "unless there are legal reasons given by the Central Elections Commission," Abbas was quoted as saying by an official travelling with him.
The aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Abbas would hold talks in Cairo in early June with the Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal about the election, which Abbas wants to delay for about four months, until November or early December.
Palestinian electoral authorities have said the poll might have to be delayed if it is to be organised according to a new election law, which has not yet entered into effect.
In Congress, Abbas met first with Republican Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, a meeting which Abu Rudeina described as "positive and encouraging".
Abbas then met with members of the House International Relations Committee. Its chairman Representative Henry Hyde said "a stable and peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to protect American interests and achieve long-term security in the Middle East."
Abbas also met Democratic US Representative Tom Lantos, who said the Palestinian leader "would get full support from the Congress if circumstances would necessitate postponing the election."
While Abbas' predecessor Yasser Arafat was persona non grata with the Bush administration for his alleged links to extremists, the new Palestinian leader will be welcomed by a US president who has repeatedly praised him for trying to end violence in the region.
Concerned about increased US pressure on Israel following Abbas' visit, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, also visiting Washington, pledged Tuesday to release 400 Palestinian prisoners to "help" Abbas in his White House visit.
Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Al-Khatib dismissing the offer as "propaganda," arguing that the two sides had initially agreed for the prisoners to be released in February.
Source
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
|