LOC23:47
20:47 GMT
DOHA, Feb 19 (KUNA) -- Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin
Jassem Al-Thani has described the talks held here on Thursday between the
Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas as "good," explaining that they dealt with all matters of
interest to the Palestinian issue, especially the situation in Gaza.
In a press statement today Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem denied that the talks
held with Abbas dealt with the abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
The prime minister meanwhile reiterated Qatar's supportive stance of any
Arab effort aimed to back the Palestinians, saying the Palestinians were
passing through critical circumstances requiring the Arabs' joining of forces
to help them out of their plight.
Responding to a question, the minister said Qatar supported the Egyptian
mediation efforts, explaining "we asserted that at the Arab League and also
reiterated that to the Palestinian President today.... We support mediation
between the Palestinians for the sake of reconciliation." He said Qatar
supported the calming agreement and if anything else was said contrary to that
it would be incorrect.
Before leaving here at the end of his brief visit, Abbas was asked by
reporters whehter or not Qatar was involved in mediation talks between Hamas
and Fatah, to which he responded "the dialogue among Hamas and Fatah and
other Palestinian factions is taking place only in Egypt and all Arab states
have a consensus about that. And that is where reconciliation among
Palestinians will take place and nowhere else." (end)
ma.ajs
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