Mubarak-Abbas Meeting Is Strategic: Palestinian FM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 21, 2003

Mubarak-Abbas Meeting Is Strategic: Palestinian FM

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath on Sunday termed an upcoming meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas as "strategic".

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Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath on Sunday termed an upcoming meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas as "strategic".

"The importance of the meeting on Monday is attributed to the fact that it comes shortly before Abbas's trip to the United States," Shaath told the Cairo-based Voice of the Arab over phone from the Italian capital of Rome.

Describing Egypt as the permanent ally of the Palestinian people, he said the Palestinians have been waging a battle in orderto swiftly and fairly implement a roadmap peace plan.

As for reports that some were still calling for disarming Palestinian factions, he said as long as a three-month truce is adhered to, no one has the right to ask for more.

"The ball is in the Israeli court," Shaath said.

Local media reported Sunday that Mubarak and Abbas are believed to discuss ways to set in motion the roadmap aimed at ending the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Abbas' upcoming visit to Egypt comes four days before his visit to the United States, where he is scheduled to meet with US President George W. Bush to keep momentum in the Palestinian-Israeli peace track following the truce declared by Palestinian factions in late June.

According to a statement issued by Abbas' office on Wednesday, the prime minister is expected to discuss with US officials on the implementation of the roadmap, end of Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank and an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities.

The roadmap, worked out by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia, requires reciprocal steps toward peace from Israel and the Palestinians and envisions a full Palestinian statehood by 2005.

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