RAMALLAH, March 4, 2009 (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas said, today, that the time has come to put the final status issues on the table, and demanded the coming Israeli government to commit to the previously signed agreement, to end colonial activities, and to remove all checkpoints.
In a joint press conference with the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the President reiterated that the Palestinian national dialogue is to continue to form a Palestinian Government that commits to our commitments and leads to presidential and legislative elections, no later than January 24th, 2010.
He also confirmed, “our determination to continue on with the peace process and to commit to all previously signed agreements.” He added, “we commit to a comprehensive solution determined in the Road Map.”
On her side, Mrs. Clinton said that the US government supports the Palestinian National Authority as the only legitimate government of Palestine.
She reiterated what she had said in Sharm Al-Sheikh, that, a child growing up in Gaza has all the rights as any other child growing up anywhere else in this world, and that Gazan parents must have an equal chance to that of parents anywhere else to ensure the prosperity of their own children.
The Secretary of State confirmed that the creation of a Palestinian state that lives in peace side by side with its neighbors is a necessity.
She said that President Abbas offers Palestinians the chance to fulfill their aspiration in building a Palestinian state, to which, the only way is through negotiations. “Time is of the essence,” she stated, “there should be no more delays.”
Clinton finally said that it is important to open all border crossings and to let in sufficient quantities of humanitarian aid, and to set the table for a successful peace whose goal is the two-state solution.
On the other hand, the Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina, told WAFA that this visit is a positive sign which shows that the new American Administration is serious enough to proceed with the peace process. He added, “We hope the Americans would understand that peace should be comprehensive.”
He affirmed that the American decision to send an envoy to Damascus is welcome by the President Abbas because peace should be lasting, comprehensive and just. “This is one way to achieve real peace,” he stated.
We are looking to see real change in the American policy towards the Palestinians-Israeli conflict, he said, peace should be based on justice, the Road Map, the Arab peace initiative, and the understanding of the two-state solution.
Abu Rudeina finally said that, “we are waiting to see a new Israeli Government, then we will judge things accordingly. We hope that the Americans will take this seriously enough to pressure Israel to start implementing the Road Map and not just accepting it.”
