Abbas, al-Assad meet with Palestinian resistance groups in Damascus
Syria-Palestine, Politics, 7/8/2005

The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas met in the presence of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leaders of the Palestinian groups including the two Islamic resistance movements ( Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad and Col. Abu Mousa leader of " Fatah- Intifada".

This meeting was in the second day of Abbas's visit to Damascus, in one of the strongest messages the Syrian President tried to convey in his support for the two issues of the Palestinian inter- dialogue and to achieving national unity.

A presidential spokesman quoted al-Assad as saying that "national unity is the basic guarantee for restoring the lands and facing challenges." He explained that "Damascus has encouraged and supported inter-Palestinian dialogue and worked through its links with all groups to encourage their participation in the rounds of dialogues which took place in Egypt."

President al-Assad continued that Syria "confirms today readiness to help making more constructive dialogue." For his part, Abbas described his meeting with al-Assad in an official work session prior to the official lunch banquet in the presence of the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara as was "excellent." The representative of the People's Front For Liberation Of Palestine, Maher Taher, stressed the attendance of all leaders of Palestinian groups in Damascus at the lunch banquet besides President al-Assad and Abbas. But did not disclose other details about the meeting held between Abbas and groups.

On Wednesday and upon his arrival in Damascus, Abbas met separately with the secretary general of the Democratic Front For Liberation Of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, and the secretary general for the People's Front For Liberation Of Palestine - General Command, Ahmad Jibril.

After leaving Damascus today, Abbas is expected to head for Beirut to meet with the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud and representatives for 400,000 Palestinian refugees in a second visit by a Palestinian leader to Lebanon since the departure of the PLO from Beirut 23 years ago.

Previous Stories:
  Abbas: Syria is a dear and sisterly country   (7/7/2005)
  Shara-Qaddoumi Discussions on developments   (7/5/2005)
  Message from the Palestinian to Syrian president   (7/1/2005)

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