Abbas will issues decrees for early legislative elections

Wednesday July 18, 2007 22:13 by Rashid Hilal – IMEMC

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said on Wednesday that the issue of early legislative and presidential elections will be disused by the Central Council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and that decrees for early elections will be issued in the near future.

Abbas and Solana - Archive

In a press release in Ramallah following his meeting with Javier Solana, the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Abbas said that he is pleased with the cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and the European Union.

He added that the upcoming Quartet meeting will discuss the Israeli-Palestinian talks, and that the US President George Bush also called for an international summit next fall.

Abbas also said that he and Solana also discussed his recent meeting with Olmert, and stated that the Palestinian leadership will continue its efforts to advance the peace process.

Abbas stated that the Palestinians always asked for an international conference, and expressed hope that the upcoming conference will lead to advancing the peace process.

He also said that he informed Solana on the harsh conditions the Palestinians are facing, especially the humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip which is totally isolated from the rest of the World.

Commenting on the Hamas control in Gaza, Abbas told Solana that what Hamas did is a coup against legitimacy, and that he will not hold any talks with Hamas unless its ends its coup, adding that the early elections will be called for in the near future.

Hamas rejects the early elections and considers them as a coup against it since it won the vast majority of the legislative council seats during last years’ elections.  The international embargo and the Israeli siege paralyzed the conducts of the government, even after a unity deal was signed with Fateh.

On his part, Solana stated that the European Union supports Abbas and the Palestinian people, adding that there will be initiative for peace in the coming days.

It is worth mentioning that the Quartet committee (The US, EU, UN and Russia) will convene on Wednesday.   

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