SYRIA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrives in Damascus to meet with Syrian officials and leaders of Palestinian factions

Record ID: 278852

  • Title: SYRIA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrives in Damascus to meet with Syrian officials and leaders of Palestinian factions
  • Date: 20th January 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "There are a lot of common issues that we must to talk about with our brothers here. And as you all know we all want to discuss such issues. It is time to discuss them and God willing we will tell what they are when we discuss them we'll tell you what happened." REPORTER ASKING, "WILL YOU MEET MESHAAL HERE
  • Embargoed: 4th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAA5TMFY6ZIJG8I98FEM7QAFJ9H
  • Story Text: Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Saturday (January 20)
    On arrival he told reporters that there were many issues he wanted to raise with Syrian officials.
    "There are a lot of common issues that we must to talk about with our brothers here. And as you all know we all want to discuss such issues. It is time to discuss them and God willing we will tell what they are when we discuss them we'll tell you what happened," said Abbas.
    Asked if he would be meeting Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal he said he was ready to meet any Hamas leaders and other Palestinian groups,
    "Palestinian factions are here and certainly anyone who wants to meet us is welcomed. Why not, there is nothing stopping us," said Abbas.
    While in Syria he will meet President Bashar al-Assad.
    Abbas met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week and told her he would make one last effort to form a unity government with Hamas but was determined to hold a new election if those talks failed, a Palestinian official said.
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