CARTHAGE, April 21, 2008, (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas held on Monday at noon talks with Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in Tunis.

 Following the meeting, President Abbas told a press conference that the meeting had turned on the visit he will  pay, at the head of the Palestinian delegation, to Washington, the purpose of this visit and issues to be examined in a thorough way.

President added that he briefed the Head of State on the outcome of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and the major subjects to be discussed.

 “President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali,' he said, 'made a firm promise to exert all efforts, be it with the Americans or the Europeans, to back up the Palestinian stance.'

President also said the talk centered on the Moscow conference, which is to follow the Annapolis and Paris conferences and which the President of the Republic has deemed useful.

Besides, the talk made it possible to review the inter-Arab relations, as well as the project of the Union for the Mediterranean.

President Abbas underlined that the meeting had also provided the opportunity to examine bilateral issues and that he will keep in touch and pursue consultation with the Head of State.