President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Hamad International Airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Qatar Munir Ghann
The official visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Qatar and his planned meeting with Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani come in the context of exploring new ways to bring peace and stability to Middle East. Abbas arrived in Doha yesterday.
In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), politicians and diplomats highlighted the importance of the visit and its timing ahead of the Arab summit in the Jordanian capital Amman on March 23-29, stressing the importance of taking the opportunity of the new US administration to activate the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives.
The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat told QNA that the President Abbas's visit to Qatar comes at a very important time ahead of the Arab summit, as part of the coordination and consultations between the Qatari and Palestinian leaderships on issues of common concern, particularly the Palestinian cause, in light of the continued Israeli abusive practices and imposing a fait accompli policy.
Besides discussing bilateral relations, the visit is expected to address a number of issues such as strengthening prospects for peace, stability and security.
Erekat noted the importance of appointing Jason Greenblatt as US Envoy to the Middle East Peace Process, who met with the Palestinian president in order to build confidence between the Israeli and Palestinian sides and as a prelude to any future solutions in an encouraging atmosphere.
The PLO Secretary-General stressed that the meeting between the Qatari and Palestinian leadership is consistent with Palestinian positions, including the Arab peace initiative, holding to the two-state solution on basis of 1967 borders, the importance of a just solution to the issues of refugees, the release of prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons, the implementation of international laws regarding the necessity to stop settlement activity, the right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem and the importance of halting Israel's arbitrary practices of executions, ethnic cleansing, displacement, settlement and Judaization, confiscation of rights and collective punishment.
Erekat pointed to the importance of taking the opportunity of the new US administration and put pressure on Israel which tries to destroy the two-state solution by pursuing arbitrary practices.
He said that peace cannot be achieved under occupation, adding peace can only be realised through the independence of Palestine on the borders of 1967 state with its capital in East Jerusalem, according to the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.
For his part, Palestinian ambassador to Qatar Munir Ghannam said in remarks to QNA that the Palestinian President's official visit to Qatar comes in the context of the ongoing consultation and coordination between the Qatari and the Palestinian leaderships.
He pointed that the coordination between the two leaderships is continuous positive approach that reflects consensus about the Arab, regional and international issues.
He pointed to the importance of the visit time, in light of the developments in the region and the escalation of the Israeli imperialism in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian Cause has topped the priorities of the Qatari leadership, which spared no effort for assisting the Palestinian people, he added.
