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21:26 GMT
By Jamil Al-Mahari (with photos) KUWAIT, Nov 3 (KUNA) -- Bahrain King Hamad Bin Issa AL-Khalifa said Wednesday his country would remain a firm supporter to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for national rights and statehood.
During his meeting here with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the king expressed hope that the Palestinians would be able to mend their rifts, restore their national unity and work towards establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
Both sides of the Palestinian political divide, namely Fatah and Hamas movements, have to work together to overcome the obstacles which hinder progress towards their common national targets and pose risk to regional stability, the king told his guest.
On his part, Abbas, who arrived here earlier today for a visit to the kingdom as part of a tour of the Gulf region, briefed King Hamad on the latest developments of the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and the situation in the occupied territories.
The two leaders agreed that the United States and the European Union have a great role to play in facilitating the Middle East peace process and enforcing the relevant United Nations resolutions, Abbas thanked his host on Bahrain's supportive stances and put him in the picture of the reconciliation talks between his Fatah movement and Hamas.
"A new round of the reconciliation talks will be held on Tuesday, November 9, in Damascus, capital of Syria," Abbas announced in a press conference after a meeting with representatives of the Palestinian community here.
He refuted reports on a possible dissolution of his Palestinian National Authority (PNA), saying that Israel puts hurdles before the PNA activities.
"The aggressive policies and unilateral moves of the Israeli occupation authorities put in peril the success prospects of the US-conceived road map," he said, denouncing the recently-resumed Jewish settlement expansion in the occupied territories.
Abbas reaffirmed commitment to the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, ruling out any concession in this regard.
He added that his Gulf tour aimed to exchange views with the brotherly leaders of the region on the latest developments of Palestinian question. (end) jmm.gb KUNA 040026 Nov 10NNNN