SYRIA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Damascus

Record ID: 279819

  • Title: SYRIA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Damascus
  • Date: 15th May 2009
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 14, 2009) (REUTERS) (MUTE) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD RECEIVING PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ASSAD AND ABBAS HEADING TO THE MEETING VARIOUS OF ASSAD MEETING ABBAS SYRIAN OFFICIALS, SYRIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WALID AL-MOUALEM (CENTRE) SEATED AT MEETING PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS AT MEETING MEETING IN PROGRESS SENIOR PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATO
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAFPXS0W60TBCW54XSKX4TKTZX
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Thursday (May 14) in Damascus for discussions on forthcoming negotiations with Hamas in Cairo.
    Saeb Erekat, senior Palestinian negotiator said Abbas was trying to ensure a reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah.

    "What is demanded from Hamas, Fatah and all factions is the success of the dialogue. The president ensured that he is doing his best efforts to make the dialogue successful. It is not possible to have a government in Gaza and another one in the West Bank. The dialogue must succeed," Erekat told reporters.

    "Hamas is not requested to recognise Israel, (accept past) agreements or change its positions. What is demanded is to distinguish between the duties of the government and the duties of the factions. Hence working to find a base point for a Palestinian government that can rebuild Gaza and carry out the presidential elections," Erekat added.
    The Egyptian brokered reconciliation between Hamas Islamists and the secular Fatah group of Western-backed Abbas is due to resume on Saturday (May 16).

    "The president was concerned that the next government will be ready to deal with the future challenges with regards to re-building Gaza. The dialogue in Cairo will not affect it at all. The government will put forward their resignations the moment a national agreement is made in Cairo,"
    Abbas's aid, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said.
    Meanwhile, tens of Palestinian refugees, living in Damascus, took part in a sit-in organised by the Palestinian Return Community to condemn the declarations announced by Abbas.
    The protesters, who sat-in in front of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation office in Damascus, said Abbas want to kill the Palestinian cause by his declarations against the right of return. They delivered a statement to the representative of the organisation in which they demanded "free"
    elections that represent all Palestinian people.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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