Roadmap amendment might foil Abbas-Sharon meeting: PNA minister

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, May 18, 2003

Roadmap amendment might foil Abbas-Sharon meeting: PNA minister

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Minister of External Affairs Nabil Shaath said on Saturday that the Israeli Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom's intentions of modifying the roadmap peace plan would foil the scheduled meeting between PNA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon.

Abbas and Sharon is planned to hold the first meeting late Saturday in Jerusalem to discuss the implementation of the roadmap peace plan, which was formally delivered to Israel and the PNA two weeks ago.

Shalom has earlier stated that Israel intended to present 13 amendments concerning the roadmap peace plan, worked out by the Quartet Committee comprising US, UN, EU and Russia to help establish an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

In a statement to journalists, Shaath said: "We will have to wait until Sharon meets US President George W. Bush in Washington to know the real Israeli standpoint concerning the Roadmap."

Palestinian sources have reported that the US administration would overrule any Israeli amendments while Israeli sources had said that the US administration could consider making few modifications in the peace plan.

"Until now the US administration didn't inform us on any modifications," said Shaath, adding "we are making contacts with the US administration to ensure the implementation of the roadmap as agreed upon."

Meanwhile, Abbas said after his meeting with visiting EU foreignpolicy chief Javier Solana on Thursday that the scheduled talks with Sharon on Saturday will tackle "Sharon's intentions to commit to the implementation of the roadmap."

The Israeli daily Ha'aretz, on the other hand, said on Friday that "Sharon doesn't seem worried about his upcoming meeting with Bush," during which Bush is supposed to exert more pressure on Sharon to accept the roadmap.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Sharon, Abbas End Meeting in Jerusalem Over "Road Map"

Sharon, Abbas Plan to Meet on Peace Roadmap

Int'l Community Aids China's SARS-control ( 2 Messages)

Feature:Nowhere to Find China's First SARS Infected ( 2 Messages)

Legal Framework for Tackling Public Health Crises Established ( 2 Messages)

BBC Leader Criticizes US Coverage of War against Iraq ( 5 Messages)

Vitamin C -- Effective Treatment of SARS: Australian Doctors ( 2 Messages)