RAMALLAH, January 8, 2008 (WAFA) - Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Saeb Erekat on Tuesday praised imminent U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to the region as important to build the Palestinian statehood and make peace.

"Bush visit is actually important," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio one day before Bush arrives to Israel and the Palestinian territories to encourage peace talks between the two sides.

At Annapolis peace conference which launched the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations last month, "Bush said he will work to make a peace deal, a peace treaty and an independent Palestinian statehood before his term ends" and "his visit is to make sure about these issues," Erekat was quoted as saying.

According to Erekat, the two leaders will emphasize the year 2008 as the "year of peace and stability and the creation of the Palestinian statehood."

To reach this, the settlement activities must come to a halt in addition to the military escalation in Gaza Strip and West Bank, stressed Erekat.

He added that the issue of Palestinian prisoners, reopening the PNA offices in Jerusalem and other final-status issues would be discussed in Abbas-Olmert summit.