Abbas sworn in as Palestinian leader

?

Ramalah- Albawaba

During his inauguration ceremony, incoming Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinians are ready to begin carrying out their obligations as spelled out in the road map and that they will not accept partial diplomatic solutions in the future.

In Abbas’ speech, which was delivered before the Palestinian Legislative Council, he commented on the latest “Karni” crossing attack.

“A number of events happened – among them from our side and by the Israeli occupation – and Palestinian responses, that do not help calm the situation,” Abbas said. “The peace process which we desire includes a general ceasefire and our hand is stretched to the Israeli partner to make peace not with words but with deeds,” Abbas said.

Abbas called on Israel to cease “assassinations, closures, confiscation of lands, and the building of the separation fence.” “Partnership cannot be achieved by dictation, and peace cannot be reached by partial or interim solutions,” Abbas added.

Abbas noted that currently the solution lies with implementing the road map “without preconditions that torpedoed its being carried out in the past with the goal of putting off entering negotiations towards peace.”

“The (Palestinian) Authority is ready to carry out its obligations according to the road map and to concentrate its forces to that end,” Abbas said.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Abbas asked PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei to remain in his post.




During the session, Rouhi Fatouh, who until Saturday served as acting chairman of the PA, resumed his prior role as speaker of the PLC.

15-1-2005

ܢܗܪܝܐ