Abu Mazen Urges Israel to Accept Roadmap Plan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 05, 2003

Abu Mazen Urges Israel to Accept Roadmap Plan

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, urged on Sunday Israel to make an official announcement that it accepts the Roadmap plan for peace inthe Middle East.

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Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, urged on Sunday Israel to make an official announcement that it accepts the Roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East.

Abu Mazen, the first ever Palestinian prime minister, refused any changes in the text of the original copy of the plan, adding that if one single note changes, "it will never end and will change finally the whole plan."

He told reporters that the roadmap was officially delivered to both Israeli and the Palestinians, adding that the Palestinians had officially accepted it, "and the Israelis should immediately say that they accept it."

"In stead of thinking to change the text of the plan, the Israeli government should soon think about implementing the plan, because the Palestinians are totally committed in implementing their part," said Abu Mazen.

The Quartet Committee, which comprises the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, declared that a committee to observe the implementation of the plan would be established.

The peace plan envisions the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005.

Official Israeli sources had said earlier that there are preparations to hold a joint Israeli-Palestinian security meeting soon, to discuss the renewal of the security coordination and prepare for a meeting between Abu Mazen and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Abu Mazen denied that there are any security meetings to be held between both sides, adding that any joint security meeting between the two parts "must be according to what has been mentioned in the roadmap plan."

US peace envoy to the Middle East William Burns is scheduled to meet with Abu Mazen and other Palestinian officials in the West Bank town of Ramallah, said Palestinian officials on Sunday.

"We announced that we accept the plan, and when we received it we announce that we accept it despite our reservations," Abu Mazen said. "The ball is now in the Israeli playground, and we are waiting for their acceptance."

He said that he is looking forward to meet with Sharon, adding that "Israel is the only first and basic address that we are referring to in order to discuss several outstanding issues and trysolving them out together."

"We certainly want to meet with him (Sharon), and we sent signals to Israel for a preparatory meeting to be followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Sharon to agree on cooperation and plan implementation," said Abu Mazen.

"This is what we are going to tell Mr. Burns on Monday," said Abu Mazen. "When Sharon says yes to the roadmap, it doesn't matter for us who would say no to the plan because he is the only one that is committed to the plan."

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