Qurei agrees to meet with Israeli officials

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Qurei agrees to meet with Israeli officials

Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei voiced Tuesday his approval to meet with Israeli officials as long as the meetings are scheduled ahead.

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Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei voiced Tuesday his approval to meet with Israeli officials as long as the meetings are scheduled ahead.

"I don't mind meeting with my Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon, but the meeting must be well prepared and should end up with tangible results for both Palestinians and Israelis," Qurei told the Ramallah based Al-Ayyam daily.

"The positive results would mean alleviating the suffering of Palestinians by lifting the sieges and closures established all over the Palestinian territories, releasing all the Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and lifting the siege imposed on (PNA) President Yasser Arafat," he said.

Qurei has finished forming his cabinet that would be presented to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for ratification on Wednesday.

The cabinet members are due to convene later Tuesday to agree on the wording of the ministerial statement that should be presented on Wednesday.

Asked about talks with the various Palestinian factions, Qurei said, "We are holding dialogues with all the factions in order to reach a ceasefire agreement between the PNA and Israel."

"In return, Israel should commit to its obligations such as ending its military raids and aggressions, halting the demolition of Palestinian houses and lifting the siege imposed on Palestinians," he said.

Raanan Gissin, Sharon's spokesman, has said contacts with PNA officials were underway, but asserted that Palestinians should takefirm steps to keep down the hard-line movements.

Gissin said Qurei had been invited to meet with Sharon, but the Palestinian prime minister had postponed the meeting by saying thathe was not ready yet.

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