South Africa's Mbeki to visit Palestinian territories
AFP
Date: 03-31-06
CAPE TOWN (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki announced that he will pay a visit soon to the Palestinian territories, following talks in Cape Town with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.
"I was pleased to get an invitation to visit Palestine as soon as possible and I have agreed to that," Mbeki told a news conference.
"We will see when to do that," he added.
Abbas was treated to a 21-gun salute at a ceremony earlier for a state visit that comes as the Hamas government is being shunned by the major powers for its refusal to recognize Israel.
In a marked departure from the West, South Africa has invited Hamas leaders for talks to try to persuade them to engage with Israel and advance the peace process.
"South Africa will talk to Hamas and they must listen to their advice," Abbas told the joint news conference.
He also criticised the United States, European Union and Russia for cutting off funding to the Palestinian Authority.
"The Palestinian people should not be punished because they chose democracy," Abbas said.
Under Mbeki, the African National Congress (ANC) has opened up to Israel's former ruling Likud party while maintaining its strong support for an independent Palestinian state.
Jordan's King Abdullah II meanwhile made a surprise visit to Cape Town and was due to hold talks with Mbeki.
Abdullah is on a private visit to South Africa, foreign ministry spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota said.
The Palestinian leader is also to meet with former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Saturday and hold talks with South African Jewish and Muslim leaders as well as Arab ambassadors based in South Africa.
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