Kuwait Times

Published Date: January 07, 2010

KUWAIT: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and an accompanying delegation yesterday concluded their two-day visit to Kuwait, during which the Palestinian Authority leader held official talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Abbas was seen off from Kuwait International Airport on his departure by HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Mohammad Al-Kharafi and Deputy
Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Also present at the airport were First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Acting Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sahah, along with senior officials, and high-ranking commanders of the army, police, and National Guard.

Earlier, Abbas hailed the Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations describing them as historic, deep-rooted and going back to the 1930s. Abbas pointed to the prominent role played by Kuwait in supporting Fatah movement ,the main Palestinian faction, since its establishment.

Abbas told the Kuwaiti press that he had the honor of having an audience with His Highness Amir of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during his current visit to Kuwait. Chief of the PNA added that he explained to HH the Amir during this audience the peace process and domestic Israeli events that led to the halt of peace negotiations. Further, he said that he discussed with the Amir the most important problems suffered by the Palestinians, besides the current conditions on the Palestinian scen
e.

On the situation in Gaza, Abbas pointed out that the PNA offers 58 percent of its budget to the sector to provide its needs of water resources, besides supplying it with water, electricity, fuel and health services. He also accused Hamas of taking money sums from Gazan citizens in return for the free services offered by the PNA.

Then, he touched on the Israeli siege on Gaza, saying that it is 'unjust,' and it must be lifted and come to an end in order to enable people there to lead a normal life", adding that, "People live there in a very bad prison and Palestinian people badly suffer.

Regarding the historic relations between Kuwait and Palestine, Abbas said that it goes back to the 1930s, besides the fact saying that Fatah movement blasted off from Kuwait and Qatar and its leadership was headquartered in Kuwait, "And this is an honor to us that should be put on historical records.

Answering a question about the fence which Egypt is going to build on its borders with the Palestinian territories and the PNA's stance on it, Abbas said it is a legitimate right of Egypt and it practices its sovereignty on its territories," And we know that Egypt will not deprive the Palestinian people from the basic items which they need.

Abbas wondered about the causes of digging tunnels, stressing the necessity of going to the root causes in order to put an end to this problem which led to imposing a siege on Gaza. He also pointed out that all food and medical supplies and ambulances and other stuff sent to Gaza are transported by the Egyptian government to this coastal enclave.

Further, he expressed his preparedness to sign a national reconciliation document with Hamas that promptly lead to holding legislative and presidential elections because Hamas came to the legislative council as a result of free and fair elections that we take pride in. He went on to say, "Or let Hamas only accept setting a given date for elections and all of us go to the balloting boxes and let people choose whom they want.

He pointed out that he asked Egyptian brothers to offer a balanced document paying attention to the interests of all concerned parties, but Hamas refused saying that it has some remarks and this means that they do not want to sign.

He said that, "Egypt is considered the southern gateway of the Palestinian people and it is capable to apply any agreement.. ,though the question that should be pose: why they do not want to sign? and there is another question: why they want to sign in Egypt?,

He went on to say that," so if they do not want to sign the document, they should go to Egypt and call for holding elections, wishing that Hamas to come to Egypt to sign the accord.

As for what head of Hamas movement Khaled Meshal expressed of acceptance on signing the accord and if there are external pressures put on the two Palestinian sides, Abbas said that he went under great pressures from the Americans and they asked him not to sign, though he signed.

He added, "So whoever claim that I yield to pressures, I say that I did not yield to them, and I have too many examples proving this," stressing that national interest is above anything else.

Asked if there is any mediation from the Arab Gulf states to bring views closer between Fatah and Hamas, Abbas said that the Arab Gulf states are keen on the national reconciliation and to get along with the Palestinian parties, expressing his belief that Egypt welcomes any effort from the Arab Gulf states in supporting the inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

On not contesting the upcoming elections, Abbas asserted that, "I'm not going to run for the next elections," pointing out, "When I said before that I'm not going to run for elections, this did not mean that I flee the battle, but I'm just a man who found the path forward closed, so I wanted to take a step backward to leave room for others to try.

He said that when he contested elections in 2005, he competed with 8 candidates, and it was probable for one of them to win, asserting that there are some conditions, problems and complications related to the Palestinian cause.
On the negotiations he held with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and he described as important, Abbas said that, "We coordinate our stances with our brothers, especially in Egypt, as Egypt is a weighty country.

He added, "So we talked to the Egyptians to ask the US administration to focus on two main points: first that Israel puts its settlement activities on full halt based on the roadmap as a frame of reference, then in case an agreement is reached, we are prepared to promptly enter into negotiations with the Israelis.

Concerning the deal on Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and the fears that Hamas may not fulfill its commitments in return for releasing Marwan Barghouti, Abbas said that there is a great willingness to sit at the negotiating table with Hamas despite traumas, blood and slayings.

He said: "We do not deny their existence, though they deny our existence and they are part of the Palestinian people, so we have to deal with them.
As for Gilad Shalit, he said that there was a deal between Hamas and Israel mediated by Egypt, then it turned into a deal mediated by the German envoy who made a deal between Israel and Hizbollah but to no avail. He also pointed out that he supports any deal that leads to releasing any Palestinian prisoner.

On to what extent Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is serious about peace, Abbas said that," Netanyahu is elected by the Israeli people, so I have to deal with him.

On the relations with the US, Abbas said: "It is excellent but we differ with it in many things, because we have interests and priorities that we should take into account even if they are against the US desires, as our policy is dictated by our national interest.

He said that he was a target of mudslinging campaign after news circulated by some media that he asked the postponement of publishing Richard Goldstone report, while this demand was made by the Arab group,the Non-aligned movement and some other organizations. --- KUNA