Abbas: Palestinians determined to reach peace accord with Israel in 2008

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated today that the Palestinian people and his leadership are determined to reach peace accord with the Israeli side in 2008.

In a joint conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London, he stressed the necessity to start negotiations without obstacles, pointing out that Israeli settlement expansion poses a serious obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Abbas also denounced the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip as well as condemning throwing frivolous missiles from Gaza into Israeli settlements, adding that all pose obstacles in advancing the peace process.

"Our visit to London today shows the importance of the relationship and role which London plays." He thanked Brown for London's support to the Palestinian National Authority and its continued interest in the Palestinian cause, considering that as an evidence of British will to reach peace in the Middle East.

Meantime, Israel's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni to the Paris Donors Conference said according to Israel's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs "Just a few weeks ago, in Annapolis, Maryland, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was re-launched and today we meet to re-energize efforts to advance the Palestinian reform agenda. Those gathered here share a common vision of a peaceful future. But, at the same time, we understand that to restore faith in the peace process we must not only build the foundations for the future, we must improve the economic and security reality in the present."