RAMALLAH, May 04, 2008, (WAFA)-President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the Road Map, Arab Peace Initiative and President Bush's vision are the bases for solving all final status issues as well as ending occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.
In a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held in Ramalla, President Abbas added that it is necessary for Israel to stop settlements, including 'natural growth' and removing the outskirts, reopening Jerusalem institutions and going back to September situation as well as lifting checkpoints, releasing the prisoners and returning the deportees.
President stressed that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) wants to achieve success on all negotiating issues, adding that we need to reach a comprehensive agreement.
'If we don't reach an agreement, we have to think about what the next step will be. Now, let's not think about failure,' Abbas said.
President told the press conference that the negotiations are being carried on every day and every hour.
''Everyone seems serious, and expresses hope that we will arrive at an agreement to establish a Palestinian state with its capital in
For her part, Rice said that we continue to believe it is an achievable goal to have an agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis by the end of the year and by the end of President Bush's term,' Rice said
Rice added that we hope to improve the opportunities around the
Rice told reporters that the changes should have 'a real effect on the lives of people,' adding that US mediators were 'trying to look not just at quantity but also at the quality of improvements.
The Secretary of State urged
