WEST BANK: U.S STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY WILLIAM BURNS HAS TALKS WITH PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO PURSUE PEACE PLANS

Record ID: 566236

  • Title: WEST BANK: U.S STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY WILLIAM BURNS HAS TALKS WITH PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO PURSUE PEACE PLANS
  • Date: 27th January 2005
  • Summary: (BN09) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JANUARY 27, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF WILLIAM BURNS, SENIOR UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY, ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS 0.11 2. VARIOUS OF ABBAS AND BURNS MEETING AND SHAKING HANDS 0.21 3. VARIOUS OF MEETING 0.36 4. CLOSE OF BIRD ON ROOF/ PULLOUT OF WIDE OF LATE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT'S HEADQUARTERS 0.48 5. WIDE OF PALESTINIAN FLAG 0.54 6. SCU SECURITY WAITING 0.58 7. VARIOUS OF BURNS WALKING OUT OF OFFICE WITH NABIL ABU RDEINEH, PALESTINIAN SENIOR ADVISOR 1.07 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(English) WILLIAM BURNS, SENIOR UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY, SAYING: "It's our view that progress on all these fronts can create a solid foundation for a successful co-ordinated implementation of Israel's Gaza withdrawal initiative, not as an end in itself, but as a step toward the full implementation of the road map and ultimately toward a negotiated end of occupation and toward the two state solution that is so deeply in the interests of Palestinians as well as Israelis. So thank you again very much." 1.37 9. SLV BURNS WALKING, GETTING INTO CAR 1.51 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(English) ABU RDEINEH, PALESTINIAN SENIOR ADVISOR, SAYING: "They were encouraged by the steps which were taken by the (Palestinian) Authority. We encouraged them to interfere and to force the Israelis to stop their aggression so that the truce would succeed and so we that can succeed in our procedures concerning what's going on, on the ground." 2.09 11. SLV ABU RDEINEH WALKING BACK TOWARDS OFFICE 2.18 12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ARRIVING FOR PALESTINIAN NATIONAL SECURITY MEETING 2.32 13. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER AHMED QURIE CONVENING MEETING 2.49 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th February 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9MIPD5YJA5APJGTWC6V6ZBEI
  • Story Text: Burns encourages President Abbas to continue to
    pursue peace with Israel.




    Senior U.S. State Department envoy William Burns
    said on Thursday (January 27) he was optimistic that Israel
    and the Palestinian authority would return to talks on
    moving forward on the U.S.-road map to peace.

    "It's our view that progress on all these fronts can
    create a solid foundation for a successful co-ordinated
    implementation of Israel's Gaza withdrawal initiative, not
    as an end in itself, but as a step toward the full
    implementation of the road map," U.S. envoy Burns told
    reporters after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
    in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

    "The two state solution that is so deeply in the
    interests of Palestinians as well as Israelis," said Burns.

    Burns, paving the way for newly confirmed Secretary of
    State Condoleezza Rice's visit in the region in three
    weeks, met Israeli and Palestinian officials to urge both
    sides to resume peace talks.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas are
    expected to meet next month for talks likely to focus on
    co-ordinating Israel's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip
    in the summer and ways to revive a U.S.-backed peace "road
    map" charting a path to Palestinian statehood.

    Palestinian Senior Advisor Nabil Abu-Rdeineh told
    reporters that Burns said the U.S. is encouraged by the
    steps Abbas has taken to reduce violence and his strive for a
    ceasefire
    but expects reciprocal steps from the Israeli
    side.

    "They were encouraged by the steps which were taken by
    the (Palestinian) Authority. We encouraged them to
    interfere and to force the Israelis to stop their
    aggression so that the truce would succeed and so we that
    can succeed in our procedures concerning what's going on,
    on the ground," said Abu Rdeineh.

    Abbas, elected president on January 9th on a platform
    of ending more than four years of bloodshed, has been
    pursuing a ceasefire with militant groups, and violence has
    dropped sharply in the Gaza Strip.

    Israel says it will answer quiet with quiet and has
    shelved major military operations, but refused to stop
    selective raids. Burns is scheduled to meet the Israeli
    Prime Minister in Tel-Aviv later on Thursday.



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