Abbas rejects temporary Mideast peace deal

Abbas rejects temporary Mideast peace deal

	Published : Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:05 By : Agencies Print this Story

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFX) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has rejected any temporary solution to the Middle East conflict, as visiting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged a renewed US push for peace.

Abbas said at a joint press conference with Rice after the two met in Ramallah that he 'emphasised our refusal to any temporary solutions, including temporary borders or a temporary state, because we do not believe that these would be viable'.

'What we need is active movement from all international parties... to achieve a durable and continuing peace... so that the region and the people enjoy peace and security.'

His talks with Rice followed a series of meetings yesterday between the top US diplomat and Israeli officials on how to kickstart the internationally drafted peace roadmap which aims for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who met Rice yesterday, last month floated a peace plan that envisaged a Palestinian state with temporary borders before a final settlement is reached.

Rice -- on her third visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in four months -- said the roadmap should be accelerated, but did not provide any specific steps to revive the blueprint that has remained largely untouched since its launch nearly four years ago.

'The US is deeply committed to find ways to accelerate progress on the roadmap,' Rice said alongside Abbas.

'The US is absolutely committed to helping find a solution' and to building on what she called 'the momentum currently in Israeli-Palestinian relations to build on a political horizon.'

Rice also defended reports that Washington is to provide the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority with more than 80 mln usd to train its security forces.

'The American contribution is part of an international effort to train Palestinian forces,' she said.

Rice is due to travel to Amman later to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II before returning to Jerusalem for talks tomorrow with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

afp/cml

The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.

AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited