””””GAZA, Oct. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Friday
that the US roadmap peace plan presented by US envoy William Burns to the
Palestinians on Thursday is to be discussed first with Arab leaders.
””””Arafat told reporters in Ramallah that the Palestinians would give their
final response on whether they accept or reject the US plan after the
Palestinian leadership study it in depth and presentit to Arab world leaders.
””””The Palestinian response to the roadmap plan would be given after Arab
leaders study it, Arafat said, adding it is under discussion and there are
continuous meetings to discuss the plan.
””””Burns, who is also US Assistant Secretary of State for Near EastAffairs,
met on Thursday with Palestinian officials and passed to them the US plan known
as the roadmap.
””””The six-page road map peace plan, worked out by the Quartet calls for
comprehensive political and security reforms in the PNA and a Palestinian state
with temporary borders by the end of 2003, and a final status agreement by the
end of 2005.
””””The plan also requires the Palestinians to name a prime minister,
reorganize their security forces into a single entity, and reinstate security
coordination and cooperation with Israel.
””””At the same time, the plan calls for Israel to withdraw to linesbefore
Sept. 29, 2000, when the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation
started, to dismantle illegal outposts, and to cease military operations in
Palestinian areas.
””””Israeli and Palestinian officials had started their ministerial
negotiations under US supervision on Thursday.
””””A senior Palestinian official blasted the bilateral talks between Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres and top negotiator Saeb Erekat Friday as "a waste of
time," adding that there is no point in any further talks.
””””The official, who was part of the Palestinian delegation at the Thursday
night's talks, said that the meetings "were not efficient,so there is absolutely
no points continuing."
””””"Without a withdrawal from Hebron and the other Palestinian areas, there
can be no talks," but an Israeli pullback seemed unlikely under current
conditions, the official said.
””””However, the two sides have agreed to resume their talks next week to
continue discussing political, security and economical issues. Enditem
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