Arafat Says to Discuss US Peace Plan with Arab Leaders

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 26, 2002

Arafat Says to Discuss US Peace Plan with Arab Leaders

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Friday that the US roadmap peace plan presented by US envoy William Burns to the Palestinians on Thursday is to be discussed first with Arab leaders.

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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Friday that the US roadmap peace plan presented by US envoy William Burns to the Palestinians on Thursday is to be discussed first with Arab leaders.

Arafat told reporters in Ramallah that the Palestinians would give their final response on whether they accept or reject the US plan after the Palestinian leadership study it in depth and presentit to Arab world leaders.

The Palestinian response to the roadmap plan would be given after Arab leaders study it, Arafat said, adding it is under discussion and there are continuous meetings to discuss the plan.

Burns, who is also US Assistant Secretary of State for Near EastAffairs, met on Thursday with Palestinian officials and passed to them the US plan known as the roadmap.

The six-page road map peace plan, worked out by the Quartet calls for comprehensive political and security reforms in the PNA and a Palestinian state with temporary borders by the end of 2003, and a final status agreement by the end of 2005.

The plan also requires the Palestinians to name a prime minister, reorganize their security forces into a single entity, and reinstate security coordination and cooperation with Israel.

At the same time, the plan calls for Israel to withdraw to linesbefore Sept. 29, 2000, when the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation started, to dismantle illegal outposts, and to cease military operations in Palestinian areas.

Israeli and Palestinian officials had started their ministerial negotiations under US supervision on Thursday.

A senior Palestinian official blasted the bilateral talks between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and top negotiator Saeb Erekat Friday as "a waste of time," adding that there is no point in any further talks.

The official, who was part of the Palestinian delegation at the Thursday night's talks, said that the meetings "were not efficient,so there is absolutely no points continuing."

"Without a withdrawal from Hebron and the other Palestinian areas, there can be no talks," but an Israeli pullback seemed unlikely under current conditions, the official said.

However, the two sides have agreed to resume their talks next week to continue discussing political, security and economical issues.

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