RAMALLAH, January 16, 2017 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas said in reaction to the international peace conference held in Paris on Sunday that the conference has reaffirmed international resolutions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as the terms of reference for a peaceful solution.

He also said he was ready to resume negotiations with Israel on all final status issues to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace.

President Abbas thanked French President Francois Hollande and his government for hosting the conference and for their efforts in making it a success. He also thanked the 70 countries and five international organizations that participated in the conference.

“Just as Security Council resolution 2334 has reaffirmed international terms of reference, international law, United Nations resolutions and the two-state solution on the 1967 bases, including East Jerusalem, the Paris communiqué has also stressed and affirmed all international terms of reference, including the principles of international law, as well as rejecting all dictates, settlements and creating facts on the ground, including in Jerusalem,” said Abbas.

He said it is important to implement resolution 2334 and the Paris communiqué “to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to stop all settlement activities, including in Jerusalem, to abide by all signed agreements and to refrain from destroying the two-state solution through dictates by use of force.”

The President called upon all countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so and to follow suit of the 138 countries, the last of which was the Vatican, which recognized Palestine as an independent state “for the sake of peace and the two-state solution and to spread security and stability in the Middle East region.”

Abbas reiterated Palestine’s respect for international law and resolution, as well as what came in resolution 2334 and the Paris communiqué.

He expressed readiness to resume negotiations with Israel on all final status issue “to reach a permanent and comprehensive peace within an international framework and specific timeline based on international terms of reference, the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative, Security Council resolution 2334 and the Paris communiqué.”

President Abbas said he will accept the invitation to visit France and meet with President Hollande in the upcoming weeks to discuss ways of peacemaking.

He also welcomed the French foreign minister’s declaration that he intends to visit Palestine to follow up on the results of the Paris conference.

M.N./M.K.