Abbas takes part in Sharm Esh Sheikh Summit with Bush and Arab leaders
Palestine-Regional, Politics, 5/29/2003

US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced that US President George W. Bush will hold a summit meeting in the Jordanian city of al-Aqaba on June 4th including the Palestinian Prime minister Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon.

Rice talked about the Sharm Esh Sheikh summit, in Egypt, which brings together the American President with several Arab leaders, noting that this meeting will contribute to giving the Middle East peace process a push forward.

In a press conference Rice added that the peace process will be long and difficult during which will be ups and downs. Rice continued that the President will discuss with the leaders responsibilities assigned to every and each party in order to provide the peace process a success. She said that President Bush wants to convene a meeting because he is confident of the possibility of boosting the meeting's agenda.

It is decided, however, that in addition to President Bush, the summit will be attended by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Saudi ArabiaÕs Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Jordanian King Abdullah II, King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Morocco's King Mohammed VI, at Cairo's invitation. These issues include peace in the Middle East, Iraq, terrorism, and economic cooperation .

The US Secretary Of State Colin Powell expressed his hope that the meeting between President Bush and the Arab leaders will be conducive to giving the Roadmap a push forward. Powell said that Bush expects support not only for the Roadmap but commitment from the side of the Arab leaders to help the Palestinians in fighting what he described terrorist organizations.

Egypt welcomed the participation of the Palestinian prime minister in the meeting which will be held in Sharm Esh Sheikh.

In the same context, Abbas said he will be meeting his Israeli counterpart today ( Thursday). This was expressed after SpainÕs Minister of Foreign Affairs Ana Maria Palacio meeting with both Abbas and the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat and senior Palestinian officials in Ramullah in the West Bank yesterday.

For his part, the founder of the Hamas movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin said he does not pin great hopes on the Bush - Abu Mazin summit. He considered Sharon's approval of the Roadmap as a trick in order to transfer the conflict from an Israeli - Palestinian conflict to a conflict between the Palestinian government and Palestinian citizens on the Palestinian arena.

After the expected meeting between Abbas and Sharon, the first after the Israeli government ratification on the peace plan and the second since Abbas had assumed his post as a Palestinian prime minister.

Previous Stories:
  AL chief calls for a just ME peace   (5/5/2003)
  OIC special groups calls for activating Israel's boycott   (3/18/2003)
  Pan-Islamic body calls for safeguarding Islamic sites in Palestine   (1/8/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search