Palestinian official denies rift with Qatar on Mena
Palestine, Politics, 10/11/1997

A top Palestinian official has denied any differences between the Palestinian Authority and Qatar, over the Middle East and North Africa Economic (Mena) conference due to be held in Doha in November.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Secretary General of the PLO executive committee, described press reports on this issue as "fabrications and rumors not based on correct information."

Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) stressed, in an interview, that the Palestinian-Qatari relations were at their best now. He described the relations as historical and deeply rooted.

Abu Mazen also denied reports claiming that the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, had complained of a conspiracy against the Palestinian Authority, orchestrated by :Israel, the United States, and Jordan along with the Hamas movement. He maintained that ³such statements could not be issued by President Arafat or any other Palestinian official.:

Nevertheless, he added, the Palestinian people, while struggling to liberate their land and regain their national rights, were still confronting numerous designs and conspiracies to abort its struggle. He declined to elaborate on the nature of these conspiracies or the parties behind them.

Abu Mazen disclosed that the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks would be resumed on October 30, and not on October 13, as has been reported by the media.

The recent summit meeting between President Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister :Benjamin Netanyahu, he said, had contributed to a great extent in overcoming hitches :facing the negotiations. But he noted that hopes were not high on prospects for :achieving great results when the negotiations resumed.:

On the release by Israel authorities and the return of Hamas founder and leader Sheikh :Ahmad Yassin to Gaza, the Palestinian official said it would help in enhancing inter :Palestinian relations.:

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