Albright discuss with Abu Mazen the implemention of Wye accord
Palestine-USA, Politics, 2/19/1999

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright held talks with the secretary of the PLO executive committee, Abu Mazen. During the one-hour meeting, talks dealt with means of implementing the Wye River agreement.

The meeting between Albright and Abu Mazen came at the end of talks held by the US-Palestinian ministerial committee, led on the American side by US Undersecretary of State for Middle East Affairs Martin Indyk and on the Palestinian side by Abu Mazen. The Palestinian delegation included Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and the minister of planning and international cooperation in the Palestinian government, Nabil Shaath.

A statement released by the US State Department said the talks of the joint committee dealt with economic issues and US aid, especially to serving means of encouraging economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and means of increasing US investment and trade.

The statement said that specialized branch committees were set up concerning trade, investment, aid and joint laws and programs. It added that a consultation committee will be established.

It will include representatives of the private sector from the two sides. The statement added the committee will hold its next meeting in the West Bank or in Gaza in the middle of the current year.

Meanwhile, the Qatar News Agency said that Abu Mazen said in a telephone conversation with Egypt's Sawt al-Arab radio broadcast on Thursday that May 4 is an important date for the Palestinians. "It is our right to announce the establishment of the Palestinian state at that set time because it relates to our future and we will not leave the matter to the Israeli government to have its veto on the agreements," he said.

Abu Mazen added that the Palestinian delegation asked the American side in the Washington talks to pressure Israel to carry out the agreements signed in the presence of the US government, especially as the "Palestinian aide carried out all its duties in this respect."

Previous Stories:
  Contacts to prepare for a meeting between Hawatemah and Arafat   (2/17/1999)
  Palestinian source: We are ready to change the date declaration of Palestinian state   (2/16/1999)
  Palestinian opposition views confederation with Jordan as suspicious   (2/15/1999)

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