Shaath: Sharm al-Sheikh summit start of implementing Roadmap
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/9/2005

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath described Tuesday's Sharm al-Sheikh summit as a start for both the Palestinians and Israelis to abide by a bilateral cease-fire and implement the Roadmap peace plan.

In statements to reporters, he extended thanks to President Mubarak for hosting the summit.

"We hope to be able to start implementing the Roadmap," Shaath said, asking Israel to withdraw to the positions it had held before the outbreak of AL-Aqsa Intifada in 2000.

The top diplomat was also hopeful that peace would be realized not only for the Palestinians and Israelis, but also for all the peoples of the region, especially in Syria and Lebanon.

He said the Palestinian Authority will update the resistance groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad on the developments and the steps that would be taken to achieve durable peace.

"We will also do the same with our brethren in Syria and Lebanon, " added Shaath.

Shaath said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted an invitation from Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon to meet in the latter's ranch in the near future.

He added that Palestinian and Israeli officials would be meeting almost on a weekly basis to make headway.

The top diplomat said the ceasefire agreements, the gradual Israeli withdrawal from, Palestinian areas a halt to the separation wall construction and an end to settlement building are the key to peace.

He stressed that the Palestinians were unable to find solutions to the issues of settlements, the separation wall and occupied AL-Quds, but "the ceasefire and the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners represent a start."

ÊÊÊ The Palestinian foreign minister said they were given Israeli pledges to start as of Thursday forming joint committees.

"The joint committee on the criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners will see the light of day very soon," he added.

Asked whether the ceasefire declaration meant an end to al-Aqsa Intifada, Shaath said there is a consensus among all Palestinian groups and factions and President Abbas made sure of that commitment.

The foreign minister said he will fly from Sharm al-Sheikh directly to Damascus to inform the Syrians, and Palestinians in Damascus, of a clear Palestinian commitment.

"From now on any breach of the truce would be a violation of the Palestinian national commitment and would be dealt with accordingly."

Shaath concluded that an Israeli withdrawal to the 2000 positions would pave the way for the final status negotiations.

Previous Stories:
  Call to halt violence by Israelis and Palestinians expected in Sharm al-Sheikh   (2/8/2005)
  Hamas is committed to unilateral truce   (2/8/2005)
  Israeli, Palestinian preparation meetings for Sharm al-Sheikh summit   (2/4/2005)

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