ATHENS, April 23, 2007, (WAFA)-President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Monday the need for a lifting of the embargo imposed on the Palestinian people.

In a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister, MR. Costas Karamanlis, President affirmed that the Palestinian people have been living a tragedy over the past year.

President also stressed his conviction that a solution to the Palestinian issue would extinguish the war spots in the wider region, and expressed hope that progress would be achieved "in the immediate future", with the support of the US and the international community.

President told reporters that he and Karamanlis had discussed the Mekka agreement and the Arab initiative, which should be materialised as it constituted a "balanced solution", given that on the one hand it called on Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 territories and on the other hand provided the ability for recognition of Israel by the Arab world.

"We further discussed US President Bush's "vision" for peaceful coexistence between two independent states," President said.

President also appealed to the international community to lift the embargo, saying that "my people have been living a tragedy for the past year and whoever wants to help must lift this embargo," he said.

For his part, Prime Minister, MR. Karamanlis described the talks with the President as "constructive", stressing that the Palestinian President's visit was taking place at an "exceptionally critical stage for the developments in the Middle East", but at the same time noted that the conditions for finding a solution were riper than ever.

" A viable solution comprised a viable and democratic Palestinian state that would co-exist peacefully and im mutual security with the state of Israel," Karamanlis said.

"Resolution of the Palestinian issue is of decisive importance, in order that the prerequisites will exist for peace in the wider area of the Middle East, from the Mediterranean to the Gulf. For this reason, we will continue to seek ways of advancing substantive negotiation and work for the consolidation of the peaceful coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples," Karamanlis said.

M.H.(14:50 P)(11:50 GMT)