MUSCAT, 21 December 2004 — PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas has rejected as “unacceptable” Israeli Prime Minisier Ariel Sharon’s latest assertions about limited return of Palestinian refugees and limited return of occupied lands, in a newspaper interview yesterday.
“We will stick to our principles and hope to receive support from the world community till Sharon retreats from his stands,” Abbas told the Times of Oman.
Abbas, a hot favorite to succeed late Yasser Arafat as Palestinian president in January election following the withdrawal of candidacy by Marwan Barghouti, was here as part of his Gulf tour during which he held what he called “fruitful” discussions with Omani ruler Sultan Qaboos.
Answering a question whether he was carrying American or British ideas, Abbas said: “No doubt, there are Arab ideas focusing on the implementation of the road map. Israel is talking about withdrawal from Gaza and the Arab position is that this withdrawal should be part of the road map. Israel rejects and wants only to withdraw from Gaza, refusing to return to the pre-1967 war borders.’’
He said: “The problem of refugees is integrated and the word (refugee) refers to any person who left his/her home or was forced to do so and not his/her nation. This means he/she who left Hai is is a refugee and who left all Palestine is a refugee.’’
Asked about the American role in the peace process after Sharon talked about a pre-understanding with US President George W. Bush, rejecting Palestinian constant positions, Abbas said: “What we hear from Sharon and the Americans is not positive. However, we want to listen to the American position directly and not through a middleman."
He said the recent statements made by Secrerary of State Colin Powell and other US officials showed Washington’s commitment to the road map. “We don’t want to indulge in pre-judgment. After the Jan. 9 elections, we want meetings with the American officials to raise these ideas.”
So far we have not received any signal from Washington that they want to abandon the road map."
Asked about any link between British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s expected visit to Palestine and the assumed British intention to hold a conference in February 2005 to be attended by the EU, US and some Middle East states, Abbas said: “Yes, there is a strong link between Blair’s visit to Palestine on Wednesday and the holding of the international conference, which was discussed by Mr. Blair with President Bush during his recent visit to the US."
Abbas was full of praise for the unstinted moral and material support lent by the Omani government to promote and uphold the Palestinian cause in thick and thin. “We also explained to the Omani monarch the worsening economic situation in Palestine due to unending occupation and settlements."
