Ramallah, May 8, 2010 (WAFA)- Head of the Negotiations Department of the PLO, Dr. Saeb Erekat, said that proximity talks would discuss issues of border security during the next four months.

In a press conference held in Ramallah following a meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas,  and the American envoy for the peace process, George Mitchell, Dr. Erekat added, that President Abbas told Mitchell that the Palestinian side wants the success of President Obama’s efforts of President Obama, and this means ending the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.

In response to a question by WAFA, on the issue of Jerusalem, Erekat said: 'The issues of Jerusalem and the settlements are part of the 1967 borders, so they will be discussed and negotiated'.

He added: 'We have come a long way in negotiations, but we do not need more negotiations, we do not want to start from scratch, it's time to make and implement decisions, and the presence of supervision teams on the ground'.

Erekat revealed that President Abbas handed Mitchell, a written message about the Palestinian position of indirect talks, expressing gratitude to the U.S. administration's efforts to make peace based on ending the occupation that began in 1967, and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Dr. Erekat pointed out, that the President will meet Mitchell tomorrow, before his return to Washington, explaining that the American side will announce when the talks would begin and what are the guarantees.

He said that President Abbas will head the Palestinian delegation to proximity talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that he will head the Israeli side in these negotiations.