Palestine President Abbas Meets U.S. Envoy Ward

RAMMALLAH, Palestine, June 13,2005 (IPC+WAFA)--The president Mahmoud Abbas received today noon the USA pointman for Middle East security General William Ward in the presidency compound in Rammallah city of the West Bank .

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas and USA pointman for Middle East security General William Ward.

About the Ward's visit , the president Abbas said it's a routine visit and came in the line of his mission as a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians on security issues as Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip.

Questioned about the threats some of the Israeli officials put off the anticipated summit between his Excellency and the Israeli prime minister Arial Sharon set on 21 June ," we are agreed on a set date for the meeting , if they decided to cancel it , this is their business not our business , this means more impediment," Abbas told the reporters.

Ahead of the summit between the Israeli and the Palestinian leaders, the National Security Advisor, Brig. Gen. Jibril Al Rajoub said late Sunday in Cairo that that chief of the Egyptian intelligence, Omar Suleiman will visit area for meetings with Palestinian and Israeli officials on June 18.

On June 19, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, is slated to meet with the Palestinian and Israeli officials as well.

At the same time, U.S. secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice will be visiting the area as well to meet with both Abbas and Sharon separately prior to the summit.

Prior to Rice's visit, the U.S. envoy's Eliot Abrams, deputy National security advisor and assistant to Secretary of State, David Walsh will visit the Palestinian territories and Israel to prepare for Rice's intended visit.

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