Abbas wishes for success of Mideast talk

Source: Xinhua | 11-14-2007 13:10

In a file photo Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, gestures during a speech at his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

ANKARA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday asserted commitment to success of a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference to be held in Annapolis later this month, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel reported.

Abbas made the remarks during his speech at the Turkish parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

The Palestinian leader warned that any attempts to sabotage this conference will have negative impact. He said the city of Jerusalem plays key role in settlement.

In his speech, Abbas also expressed his gratitude towards the United States, one party of the Mideast Quartet, which also includes the UN, the EU and Russia, in pushing forward the Mideast peace process.

"We appreciate the support shown by U.S. in hosting the peace conference," Abbas said, vowing to continue efforts to work towards democracy, tolerance and unity.

Turkey can play an effective role in solving Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said, underlining that he appreciated Turkey's role in holding this dialogue of peace.

Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres were in Turkey to attend the Ankara Forum, which was initiated by Turkey in 2005 as a confidence building mechanism between the Palestinians and Israel.

Earlier in the day, Abbas urged Israel to end its occupation of Arab lands, saying this is the way that Israel will live in peace.

At a joint press conference with Peres and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Abbas said, "If there is peace between Israel and the Palestinians and the occupation of Arab lands ends, Israel will also live in a sea of peace, security and stability in the Middle East."

"There will no longer be wars or enmity and all the peoples in the region will live in security and stability" if the peace realized, he added.

Abbas said the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was "working with our full force" to ensure that the upcoming summit aimed at relaunching peace negotiations between Israel and the PNA and other Arabs "is a success."

During an early tripartite meeting, Abbas, Peres and Gul signed an agreement on setting up joint industrial zones in the West Bank.

Peres, for his part, attached great importance to the agreement which he considered as a win-win result, saying that "the project will yield important results for the region and contribute to peace process."

Editor:Zhang Pengfei