WEST BANK: U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell searching for common ground in Middle East
Record ID:
560258
WEST BANK: U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell searching for common ground in Middle East
- Title: WEST BANK: U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell searching for common ground in Middle East
- Date: 1st October 2010
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 30, 2010) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAAB EREKAT GREETING MITCHELL AT PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND CAMERAMAN MITCHELL WAVING TO MEDIA AS HE ENTERS COMPOUND WITH EREKAT MITCHELL AND ABBAS SEATED TOGETHER FOR PHOTO-OP CLOSEUP OF ABBAS SEATED CLOSEUP OF MITCHELL SEATED DELEGATION SAT AT MEETING MITCHELL AND EREKAT EXITING BUILDING SECURITY GUARD EREKAT APPROACHING MICROPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGE MITCHELL, U.S MIDDLE EAST PEACE ENVOY, SAYING: "We are determined to continue and we are continuing our effort to find common ground between the parties, to enable the direct negotiations to continue." DELEGATION MEMBERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAEB EREKAT, PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, SAYING: "We have always said our position. We're not against direct negotiations. On the contrary, we want to see to it that we reach an end game, end of conflict, a permanent status solution, establish the two-state solution, a state of Palestine in the 1967 borders, to live side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel." DELEGATION MEMBERS LISTENING
- Embargoed: 16th October 2010 13:00
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- Reuters ID: LVA4SYT5GK46KMQDEVF3JPFFTMXM
- Story Text: U.S. envoy George Mitchell on Thursday (September 30) stepped up the pace of efforts to save Middle East peace talks launched four weeks ago, saying he was seeking common ground to avert their collapse.
Former Senator Mitchell was speaking after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who says he will pull out of the talks unless Israel extends a freeze on new building in Jewish West Bank settlements, which expired this week.
"We are continuing our efforts to find common ground between the parties to enable the direct negotiations to continue," he said.
Mitchell met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (September 29), saying the United States was "determined more than ever" to achieve Middle East peace.
Direct talks resumed on Sept 2 after a 20-month suspension. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters in Ramallah that Mitchell would be going back to see Netanyahu on Thursday and would be back to see Abbas the following day.
"We're not against direct negotiations," Erekat explained. "On the contrary, we want to see to it that we reach an end game, end of conflict, a permanent status solution, establish the two-state solution, a state of Palestine in the 1967 borders, to live side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel."
Abbas has said he would hold off on a decision on the fate of the talks until the Arab League can discuss the issue at a meeting in Cairo next week and reach a consensus. The meeting of the League's committee on the peace process was scheduled for October 4 but one Arab League source said it was now postponed until October 6. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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