Abbas wants to meet Olmert 'ASAP'

PA chairman says he wants to meet Acting PM immediately; ‘negotiations only way to settle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,’ Abbas adds
Ali Waked

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said at a Ramallah press conference he wants "to meet with Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert immediately."

Abbas added that negotiations were the only way to settle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

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On Tuesday, Olmert expressed his stances on a number of diplomatic issues since he was forced to replace Ariel Sharon.

At the end of a meeting with President Moshe Katsav, Olmert was asked whether there would be a further unilateral disengagement. "I'm only the acting prime minister, hopefully for a short time," replied Olmert.

"Everything connected to the government's policy is based on the Road Map," he added.

"The policy of the government as it has been pursued for the past year will go on," said Olmert. "I hope that after the PA elections, and after our own elections, we can enter into negotiations with Abbas, and reach a permanent agreement."

Olmert also sent a clear message to the Palestinian leader, saying that "it would b a mistake to release someone from obligations they made to the Road Map, and not to demand that they fight terrorism and take disarm organizations," he said.

Tal Rosner contributed to this report