RAMALLAH, May 17, 2011 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas discussed on Tuesday with visiting Maldivian foreign minister, Ahmed Naseem, issues concerning the peace process and the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

Abbas said that the peace process has been stalled due to the Israeli refusal to stop settlement activities and terms of references for the peace process.

He added that the reconciliation agreement signed recently in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas aims to end internal Palestinian division and to hold presidential and legislative elections.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also Naseem and told him that the Palestinian institutions are ready to function in an independent state once it is approved by the international community.

Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Riyad al-Malki, also met Naseem and the two officials discussed development in the region and efforts to get international recognition of a Palestinian state by September.

Naseem expressed support for the declaration of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He expressed support for the reconciliation agreement.

W.S./M.A.