Abbas hails Oman’s support to Palestinian cause

APPRECIATION: Palestinian President lauds HM’s role in enhancing the foundations of peace and stability in the region Israeli settlement root cause of problem: Palestinian president

MUSCAT: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, His Highness Sayyid Assad bin Tareq al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, on Thursday met with President Mahmud Abbas of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). HH Sayyid Assad welcomed the guest and his accompanying delegation.

The Palestinian President expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to His Majesty the Sultan. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the efforts of His Majesty and the Sultanate’s Government towards the Palestinian people, as well as the constant support to serve their issues at all international fora.

On his turn, HH Sayyid Asaad conveyed greetings of His Majesty along with his best wishes to the Palestinian people. He also affirmed keenness of the Sultanate, its leadership and people to stand by the Palestinian people in their endeavours to restore their legitimate national rights. He wished the Palestinian President all success in his endeavours for the interest of the brotherly Palestinian people.

President Abbas also received at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs.

The meeting discussed the good relations between the two brotherly countries and means of promoting them in various fields. The meeting also reviewed the latest developments of the Palestinian cause, as well as affirming the Sultanate’s support to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

President Abbas also met ambassadors of the Arab countries accredited to the Sultanate. The meeting touched on the political activity of the Palestinian Authority, as well as outcomes of the Palestinian President’s visit to Washington, Moscow, India and Germany to familiarize the Arab brothers with the latest developments in relation to the Palestinian cause.

Later in the day, President Abbas left Oman after a short two-day visit to the Sultanate.

The Palestinian President and his accompanying delegation were seen off at the Royal Airport by Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Minister of Justice, Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, senior officials and Dr Ahmed Abbas Ramadhan, Palestinian Ambassador to the Sultanate.

The Palestinian President was accompanied by Dr Ziad Abu Amr, Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Riyad al Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mahmoud al Habbash, Adviser to the Palestinian President for Political Affairs, Supreme Sharia Judge, Nabil Abu Rudeina, Spokesman for the Presidency, Majdi al Khaldi, Diplomatic Adviser to the Palestinian President, Dr Ahmed Ramadhan, Palestinian Ambassador to the Sultanate and officials. MUSCAT: In a special interview with Oman News Agency (ONA), President Mahmud Abbas of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), on Thursday hailed the wisdom of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, as well as His Majesty’s stances towards different issues and his remarkable role in enhancing the foundations of peace and stability in the region.

The Palestinian President affirmed that the Sultanate’s stance, under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, is firm and has never changed since the beginning of the Palestinian issue till date. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the Sultanate’s permanent stances and support for the Palestinian people in all international forums.

“The Israeli settlement is the root cause of the problem and its continuation hampers the two-state solution,” he added.

As for the Arab Peace Initiative, President Abbas said that it is one of the major solutions presented since 2002. The Initiative, which mandates Israel to withdraw from all Arab and Palestinian occupied lands, has been the key topic of discussion with the US president during the recent visit to Washington.

As for the Palestinian reconciliation, he said “We are doing our best to achieve reconciliation and I call Hamas Movement to allow the National Unity Government to carry out its functions in Gaza”.

During the interview, he pointed out that the meeting with the Arab ambassadors covered the political activity in the upcoming period either this visit to the Sultanate or the previous visits to USA, Germany, India and Russia, as well as the activity during the coming US-Arab Islamic summit in Riyadh.

As for the US-Arab Islamic summit that will be held in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, he said that the summit will focus on a range of issues the most important of which is to implement the Arab Initiative, the two-state solution and terrorism fighting.

“I hope that this summit will be a springboard with the US administration to solve the Palestinian cause and the Arab issues in general,” he concluded. — ONA