JERUSLAMEM, January 8, 2008 (WAFA) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed on Tuesday to start talks on the on final status issues, said Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Saeb Erekat.

Erekat told a press conference in Ramallah the final-status negotiations will be conducted by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and head of the Palestinian negotiating team, Ahmed Qurie, adding the talks would begin immediately.

"It has been agreed that Abu Ala (Qurie) and Ms Livni start intensive meetings to immediately discuss all core issues of a final status agreement," he said.

"The President urged that the year of 2008 be made the year to reach peace," he said. "The intention is to see to it that we give peace a chance."

Commenting on US President George Bush's visit to Ramallah and Bethlehem, Erekat said that "Bush said the U.S., himself and the world will stand shoulder to shoulder with the two sides in order to see the implementation of a final peace treaty."

Erekat added that "Bush is not coming here to conduct the negotiations on any of the permanent status issues, and he is not coming here to impose solutions. The business of negotiations is an Israeli-Palestinian negotiation."

The permanent status issues are specified as Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, water, environment and security, said Erekat, adding that "the issue of Palestinian prisoners will be discussed in the permanent status talks."

"This is an issue that is significant for us on the Palestinian side. President Abbas has earlier said that how we can sign a permanent agreement without the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails."

Erikat added that President Abbas raised the issue if Israel's ongoing aggressions against the Palestinian people, stressing that Israel's continued invasions undermine the Palestinian efforts to enforce security.