Abu Mazen: Declaration of a state on May 4 is the Palestinian people's right

The secretary general of the executive committee of the PLO, Mahmoud Abass (Abu Mazen), confirmed the adherence of the Palestinian government to the date of May 4 for announcing the establishment of a Palestinian state, but opened the way in front of any new developments till this date, emphasizing that any change in the date needs another agreement.

In press statements he made in Abu Dhabi, Abu Mazen said that May 4, 1999 is a sacred date, upon which everybody has agreed in the Wye River accord, adding that the remaining issues should be settled -- Jerusalem, settlements, borders and refugees -- so that there will be an independent state with its capital Jerusalem.

Moreover, Abu Mazen demanded that the Israeli government respect the dates said in the Wye River agreement and not to use the coming Israeli elections which are to take place on May 17 as a means of stalling.