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Mideast: Erekat and Hamas chief meet in Damascus
 [ADN Kronos] Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat of the Fatah movement met the leader of the rival Islamist Hamas movement, Khaled Meshal, in Damascus ahead of a visit by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to Syria over the weekend.Ali Badwan, member of the Palestinian National Council, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that Erekat met Meshal at the request of Syria. The meeting reportedly took place in the presence of a member of the Syrian government and other members of the Palestinian delegation. Badwan said that Damascus called on the rival groups to reach an accord and put an end to their divisions, as well as "contribute to Egyptian efforts in order to obtain positive results". The meeting between Erekat and Meshal were a "positive step", added Badwan, underlining that Hamas "is open to dialogue" but at the same time "is not willing to confirm that they will sign an agreement with Fatah in Cairo on 7 July, since a full understanding has not yet been reached". Badwan told AKI that "there are still many contrasting questions that must be discussed." Badwan said that Erekat praised the Syrian role in the meeting between the Palestinian groups, affirming that Syria "is a key country and a regional power which has an important role in the talks between Palestinians." Prior to the talks, Palestinian sources said Abbas would not meet with Meshal in Damascus, since the meeting was not in his schedule during his visit. Posted by: Fred 2009-06-23 |
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