Palestinian president meets Italian PM on Middle East peace talks

ROME, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday in Rome in an attempt to boost support for re-launching peace talks in the Middle East.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Abbas, Berlusconi the premier said Israel needs to stop expanding its settlements in Palestinian territories in order to allow peace talks to resume.

Israel should "take the first step towards reopening negotiations by putting a freeze on their settlements," he said.

Berlusconi also described Abbas as "a wise man, one endowed with common sense and a strong will", saying Italy backed Abbas' efforts to "bolster democracy, relaunch the economy and consolidate security" in the Palestinian territories.

The premier said he told Abbas Italy's support "in all fields and in every direction to help Palestine and help foster a return to negotiation."

The success of the negotiations, Berlusconi said, "is important not only for Israel and Palestine, but for the whole Middle East region."

"We are absolutely convinced that the concept of 'two peoples-two states' is the key for a just and long-lasting peace and security in the Mediterranean," he added.

"We are close to our Palestinian friends' efforts in increasing democracy, economic growth and safety. Italy supports the launch of a Marshall Plan for the Middle East that may build new strategic infrastructures such as airports and tourism facilities," he added.

For the Palestinian president it is a tough moment, amid calls for his resignation by colleague politicians and the stalemate of the negotiations process.

Before meeting Berlusconi, he held an hour-long talk with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and then inaugurated the Palestinian Authority's new headquarters in Rome.

Rome's mayor Gianni Alemanno was also present at the inauguration and said he hoped that the two-state solution would bring peace to the region.

"The decision to inaugurate the new headquarters for our Palestinian friends to use shows our strong conviction," said the mayor, who also urged Israel to stop its settlement construction.

"It is crucial that Israel does every possible effort to stop the settlements in the West Bank," said Alemanno.