RAMALLAH, April 29, 2011 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Friday said political negotiations will be the responsibility of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and not of the unity government the two main political factions, Fatah and Hamas, had agreed on.

He said during a meeting with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd that the government which will be established after Fatah and Hamas sign their reconciliation agreement next week will concentrate on rebuilding Gaza and prepare for national elections.

He said the PLO is the party responsible for the political issues and therefore negotiations will be conducted by the PLO and not the Palestinian government.

Abbas briefed his Australian guest on the latest with the peace process and efforts to overcome obstacles facing it due to Israeli intransigence and its refusal to stop settlement activities.

Rudd briefed Abbas on his meetings earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

He said his country will continue to support the peace process and Palestinian efforts to build state institutions, praising the economic and security development in the Palestinian Territory.

In another development, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called Abbas Friday.

A statement by Abbas’ office said the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian areas and the Middle East, as well as efforts to revive the peace process and the latest agreement on reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.

Ashton said in a statement on Thursday that she was “following the decision to form an interim Palestinian government with great interest.” She said that she “will study the detail of this agreement and discuss with colleagues in the EU and in the region.”

M.A.