Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques receives message from Syrian President Assad

King Abdullah reviews outcome of talks with Jordanian monarch during cabinet

Palestinian dialogue conference ends in Cairo with agreement to form national unity government, halt media campaigns, release detainees gradually

Minister Omar Suleiman urges delegations to maintain Palestinian decision away from regional positions

Abbas: We shall not start with Israel from scratch; accept but two states solution, halt of settlement building

A dozen Palestinian groups launched a long-awaited dialogue and laid out a plan to tackle key issues that could reunite Palestinians after 18 months of schism between Gaza and the West Bank.

All parties say they hope the dialogue will lead to a new national unity government to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive and then to organize presidential and parliamentary elections. The participants agreed to form five committees to deal with issues such as the formation of the cabinet, presidential and legislative elections and security services.

Senior Fatah official, Azzam al-Ahmed, said a national unity government may be announced before the end of March.

"Yes, it is possible. We are in a hurry. Once we agree we want to start the implementation, and the first step is the government. Everything is linked to the government," he said.

The committees would begin their work on March 10 and finish before the end of the month, a final statement issued after the talks said. An Arab diplomat said the Egyptian mediators hoped to complete a deal in time for endorsement by an Arab summit in Qatar in late March.

The United States and European governments want the Palestinians to set up a government of non-partisan technocrats. That would spare them the problem of deciding how to deal with representatives of Hamas, which they call a "terrorist" group.

The West had shunned a previous national unity government headed by Hamas after it had won parliamentary elections in 2006. Many Arabs and Palestinians said Western powers were punishing the Palestinians for their democratic choice.

But several participants, including senior Fatah official Ahmed Qurei, refused to rule out the possibility of a cabinet that represents the different groups.

"It could be a government of groups, it could be a government of technical experts or it could be a government of technocrats," he said, adding the type of the cabinet was up to the committee handling the issue.

The Islamist group Hamas and the rival Fatah group, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, have different visions of the crucial question of how to deal with Israel.

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since June 2007, reserves the right to fight Israel, although it is prepared to accept an 18-month truce. Fatah, which controls the West Bank, has renounced violence and puts all its hope in negotiations.

One participant said a disagreement emerged in the talks about the fate of the upcoming legislative and presidential elections. He said several groups wanted to set a fixed date in January 2010 for the polls to allow President Mahmoud Abbas to remain in power unchallenged as long as possible.

But the final statement said the polls would take place by January 2010, leaving open the possibility of early elections.

"It could happen in four months, or it could happen in six months," said Samir Ghoushe, secretary-general of the Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

"We avoided what we could disagree on," he added.

Abdel-Rahim Mallouh, deputy chief of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, tried to dampen expectations of fast solutions.

"It has to be clear that we are in the beginning of the road," he said. "As people say, the Devil is in the details."

The national dialogue was preceded by talks between Fatah and Hamas. The two groups exchanged promises to free each other's detainees in Gaza and the West Bank.

Jamil al-Majdalawi, an official with the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, told AFP the factions had formed several committees to pave the way for the unity government.

Muhammad al-Hindi, deputy leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, confirmed the factions had agreed to establish the government by the end of next month. The reconciliation talks opened after Fatah and Hamas agreed on confidence-building measures to resolve the fate of prisoners detained by both sides and stop a war of words being played out in the media.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman told the participants as he opened the conference that officials hoped the meeting would be “the real start of a new period ending the state of division which has gone on too long. The time has come for us to turn the page once and for all.”

The meeting is being held at Suleiman’s headquarters. “Everyone is looking towards you,” he said,” as his speech was broadcast live on Egyptian television, “and are hanging their hopes on you. So do not prolong the disagreement and deepen the division. Unite ranks to fulfill the hopes of all for an independent Palestinian state.”

The local Maan news agency reported that senior Fatah leader Azzem el-Ahmed and Hamas senior leader Mahmoud al-Zahar announced at a press conference in Cairo that they reached the agreement in a joint statement in Cairo.

The Hamas-Fatah announcement was made a day ahead a comprehensive dialogue mediated by Egypt, scheduled to kick off in Cairo. They agreed to free all political members from their jails and end the media incitement immediately.

The two rival leaders' statements were made following a daylong bilateral talks, sponsored by senior Egyptian intelligence officials headed by intelligence chief Omer Suleiman.

"The release of both movements' prisoners will be gradual during and after the dialogue," said al-Zahar. However, in spite of the agreement, the two leaders had disagreed on other points.

Al-Zahar added that the two movements agreed to form two committees, one in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip, to stop the arrests and the media incitement campaigns as well as all other violations.

It is the first time both rivals declare an agreement since Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip violently in June 2007 following weeks of heavy street fighting between both sides' militants.

Al-Zahar said that the number of Hamas prisoners in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces prisons in the West Bank is around 400, adding that 80 of them had been already released.

Meanwhile, el-Ahmed said that Hamas had lifted the home-arrest orders imposed on several Fatah movement members in the Gaza Strip, adding "will is the only guarantee to make the dialogue successful."

He also confirmed that it was agreed to form a national unity government, and there is a special law related to how the security apparatuses can act "where it is prohibited to practice factional activities into those apparatuses."

Both leaders had also stressed on the necessity of rebuilding what had been destroyed during the three-week Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that ended in January.

"We will soon form the five committees of reconciliation," el-Ahmed said, adding that "the split between Gaza and the West Bank had caused a failure to the peace process and gave Israel the excuse to carry out its attacks on Gaza."

Senior Hamas official and deputy-head of the Movement's political bureau Dr. Moussa Abu Marzouq, who heads Hamas's delegation to the inter-Palestinian dialogue in Cairo, confirmed in press conference that five preparatory committees that the factions approved would suggest and specify members of that interim government.

He also disclosed that a "new and special" agreement on Rafah crossing point will be prepared, hailing the Egyptian efforts in reaching that agreement.

As far as the reconstruction of Gaza Strip is concerned, Abu Marzouq explained, "mechanism of reconstruction [in the Gaza Strip] will be delineated by the proposed committees, and since the rebuilding of Gaza is an absolute right of the Palestinian people, then all forms of support for that purpose will be provided".

In their meetings in the Egyptian capital Cairo, leaders of the Palestinian resistance factions agreed to form and name the five committees that, they revealed, would start work on the 10th of next month, and conclude their missions on the 20th of the same month.

They also agreed a sixth committee that would comprise Egypt, the Arab League, and secretary-generals and heads of the Palestinian factions to supervise mechanism of implementation of the proposals.

In a related matter, Palestinian Prime Minister Isma'il Haniya called for comprehensive media reconciliation as he honored journalists working in the Gaza Strip for the efforts they had exerted in covering the brutal Israeli war on Gaza last month.

He also called on PA security forces in the West Bank to immediately and unconditionally release all journalists detained in the PA jails there, and to give the West Bankers the freedom to express their opinions. Representatives of the Palestinian groups discussed "the formation and missions of the five committees that were agreed upon in last November," namely on reconciliation, government, security, elections and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said MENA.

The five committees will deal with the issues of forming a Palestinian national unity government, reforming the security services, holding elections, reforming the PLO and pushing forward the reconciliation.

They also agreed to form a sixth committee grouping Egypt and the Arab League to help end any differences that may emerge during the five committee meetings, it added.

According to Egyptian official sources, the dialogue, which aimed to iron out the split between the two rivals after Hamas violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and ousted Fatah security forces, concluded the first meeting.

Thursday's talks came a day after Fatah and Hamas agreed on confidence-building measures to pave the way for the success of the national unity talks.

Delegations of Fatah and Hamas arrived in Cairo to attend the national unity dialogue hosted by Egypt.

Ahead of the comprehensive unity talks, Fatah and Hamas teams held three rounds of negotiations.

The two groups agreed to "halt hostile media campaigns, political arrests and to release a number of detainees held by the two movements."

Senior officials of Fatah and Hamas movements have expressed their hope that the inter-Palestinian dialogue would be held successfully.

At a joint press conference following talks, Hamas' senior official Mahmoud Al-Zahhar and head of the Fatah parliamentary bloc Azzam al-Ahmed said the understanding between the two groups is meant to set the scene to render the dialogue a success.

Meanwhile, sacked Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said that it's the top priority of Gaza ruler Hamas to achieve Palestinian national unity and real reconciliation.

"The national dialogue (in Cairo) is a way for national salvage and it is not a political tactic," Haneya said in a statement published by the Palestinian Information Center, Hamas' official media outlet.

Haneya, who has been hiding during the 22-day Israeli offensive in Gaza that ended on Jan. 18, said his government aims at "achieving a real reconciliation through the dialogue."

Egypt has been engaged in intensive talks with Palestinian groups to broker a reconciliation deal among Palestinian factions.

The last round of inter-Palestinian dialogue was thwarted by Hamas last November, for the alleged crackdowns against its members in the Fatah-dominated West Bank.

The United States has received a letter from the Palestinian Hamas movement for President Barack Obama, who considers the militant group a “terrorist” organization, a US official confirmed.

"I can confirm that it was from Hamas to President Obama," a State Department official said on condition of anonymity, adding that US officials were weighing "how it should be treated."

It was not clear whether the letter was an overture to Obama, who has said Washington cannot negotiate with Hamas until it recognizes Israel, renounces violence and agrees to abide by peace deals between the Jewish state and the Palestinians.

Democratic Senator John Kerry gave the letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, after receiving it from a UN official in Gaza who did not tell him that it was from Hamas, a spokesman for the lawmaker told AFP.

"It was in a sealed envelope, addressed to the president of the United States," the spokesman, Frederick Jones, told AFP by telephone.

Kerry received the letter from the head of UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, at the end of a meeting in Gaza, but the UN official did not tell him who it was from, which the senator only learned from news reports, said Jones.

Kerry "left Gaza for meetings with Israeli defense officials and learned according to news reports that a UN official had informed the press that the letter was from Hamas. Senator Kerry turned the letter over to the Consul General in Jerusalem this morning to handle through appropriate channels," he said.

"The consulate is now looking at how it should be treated," according to the State Department official, who said he described it as coming from the group because "that is what the senator reported. That it was from Hamas."

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in June 2007, has flatly denied giving Kerry a letter.

"However, we are willing to forge ties with anyone who is ready to back the rights of the Palestinian people," spokesman Fawzi Barhum told AFP in the Gaza Strip.

But a spokesman for UNRWA, Christopher Gunness, said the letter had been "left at the gate of our offices in Gaza" and was "believed to be from Hamas."

Asked about the contents of the letter, Gunness said: "We are very polite at UNRWA, we don't open other people's mail."

He said the letter was given to Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when he met relief officials at the UN compound during his tour of the devastated enclave, which no US official had visited in years.

Kerry did not meet any Hamas representative during his Gaza visit and stressed that his presence in the coastal strip did not indicate a shift of US policy towards the Islamist group.

The United States, the European Union and Israel all list Hamas as a “terrorist” organization.

The European Union condemns Israeli plans for settlement expansion in the West Bank, the Czech EU presidency said in a statement delivered on behalf of the 27-member bloc.

The EU called on Israel in the statement issued to reconsider plans for construction in the vicinity of the Adam settlement in the West Bank, as it would violate international law and Israel's commitments made to the Palestinians in the Annapolis peace talks.

The union said that expansion of the settlements 'is a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East.'

'Settlement activity undermines all the efforts of Arab partners committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and calls into question the seriousness of Israel's commitment to the two-state solution,' the EU statement said.

The statement came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas prepared to visit Prague, as EU foreign ministers are set to hold their regular meeting in Brussels.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said that talks with Israel were 'meaningless' if settlement construction did not stop.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for President Abbas, said that 'Israeli settlement activities and military checkpoints are not only detrimental to the Arab peace plan and the Annapolis understandings, they also undermine Arab and international efforts to reach the two states solution.'

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said that although the formation of the new Israeli government is likely to take time, it is important that the quest for peace in the area shouldn’t be held back more than necessary.

EU foreign ministers called on the incoming Israeli government to re-launch the Middle East peace process with the Palestinians, though some voiced fears over having right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu at the helm.

"We could have a rough start," warned Alexandr Vondra, vice-premier of the Czech Republic, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

"We need to move forward on the peace process," added Vondra, also the Czech minister for Europe, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt denounced the conditions which Netanyahu has imposed for parties to join a national unity government, which his Likud party hopes to form with the centre-right Kadima party of Tzipi Livni and Labor Party chief Ehud Barak.

"He is discussing putting conditions that are clearly incompatible with existing commitments of the peace process," Bildt said as he entered the talks.

"It is very important to send a strong signal that this is not going to be acceptable," he added.

Many of his EU counterparts called for the peace process to be renewed without speculating on the make-up or intentions of the Netanyahu government.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana voiced a widespread European sentiment when he said it was too early to voice an opinion on the Israeli government, which is yet to be formed following a general election.

"Let's wait until we have a result of the government. We are ready to cooperate with a government elected by the people," Solana said.

He told reporters ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting that, in any case, it was time to move to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

"I think the time for concentrating only on crisis management is over and we have to do the conflict resolution as soon as possible," added Solana, who will embark on a Middle East tour which will begin in Syria and take in Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also stressed the need to "give the government time to form."

Whatever government emerges "it must resume the peace process, that's absolutely essential," said Spanish secretary of state for European affairs Diego Lopez Garrido.

In order to help the peace process Solana has backed a call by president Mahmud Abbas for a Palestinian unity government to pave the way for presidential and legislative elections.

The Palestinian leadership has been split since June 2007 when Hamas routed their Fatah rivals from Gaza in deadly street fighting.

Abbas, whose control since Fatah's ouster has been limited to the West Bank, severed all contacts with Hamas after the Gaza takeover.

However last month, in the wake of Israel's massive assault on Gaza which killed 1,330 people, he called for a "national unity government" to prepare for simultaneous presidential and legislative elections.

The EU is the biggest donor to the Palestinian territories, but cannot currently resume its monitoring mission at the Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the only exit that does not pass through Israeli territory.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired in Rawdhat Khuraim the Cabinet's weekly session.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques informed the Cabinet of the good health and wellbeing of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, who his undergoing medical checkups and treatment in the United States of America, praying to Almighty Allah to bestow on the Crown Prince good health and wellbeing.

In his statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja pointed out that the King briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his meetings and consultations with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which addressed the development of events at the Arab arena, particularly the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, commending, at the same time, the brotherly ties and common stands that unite the two countries in support of Arab and Islamic issues.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the other consultations and communications the King maintained during last week with a number of State leaders and officials on issues relating to bilateral relations, Arab and Islamic issues, and international affairs.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, presented to the Cabinet the results of the joint meeting between the GCC Ministerial Council of Foreign Ministers and the Financial and Economic Committee, held in Riyadh, Dr. Khoja added. The Cabinet commended the outcome of the meeting which shows the concern and commitment the GCC countries accord the Palestinian people and the efforts of rebuilding Gaza Strip.

The meeting discussed the best mechanisms for implementing GCC contributions to rebuild Gaza Strip, commitment and resolve to maintain support for the brotherly Palestinians, along with the speed of executing the rebuilding projects in Gaza. The meeting also reviewed the regional and international efforts exerted to rebuild Gaza Strip, including the International Conference for Rebuilding Gaza, to be held on March 20, 2009, in the Arab Republic of Egypt at the generous initiative of President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak.

The meeting also expressed discontentment and strong condemnation of the hostile statements voiced by a number of Iranian officials; these statements breach the sovereignty and independence of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and represent a glaring aggression against the Arab identity of Bahrain.

The meeting stressed that such statements are hindering blocks against sincere Gulf efforts and initiatives seeking to bridge good neighborly relations of mutual respect and friendliness between the GCC States and Iran to achieve security and stability in the region.

On a different level, the Cabinet listened to a report on events at the Arab arena, the Minister of Culture and Information added.

In this regard, the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's denunciation and condemnation of the criminal explosion that targeted the innocent civilians in the neighborhood of Al-Hussein in Cairo, wishing speedy recovery for the injured and for the Arab Republic of Egypt and the brotherly Egyptian people a permanent security and stability.

The Minister of Culture and Information said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has followed up the wellbeing of the injured Saudis, and instructed the Saudi Arabian Embassy monitor their health status and accord them all the care they need until they, God Willing, fully recover.

The Cabinet also welcomed the declaration of intent and trust building for the settlement of Darfur problem which was signed under the supervision of the State of Qatar between the government of the Sudan and the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement.

The Cabinet emphasized that this accord, having been signed in the presence of the Arab league, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the joint mediator of the United Nations and the African Union, is an important step that advances the efforts of the political process in Darfur towards achieving a comprehensive and just agreement which will put an end to the conflict, improve humanitarian conditions in the district, and enhance security and stability in the brotherly State of the Sudan.

Dr. Khoja pointed out that the Cabinet followed with concern the conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories in light of the repeated Israelis violations against the innocent civilians, Israel's continuing aggression against Gaza Strip, the campaign of arrests in a number of Palestinian cities and towns, and continuous excavations within the limits of the blessed Aqsa Mosque.

The Cabinet called on the International Community to uphold a firm stand against the inhuman Israeli practices, to work seriously towards providing protection of the Palestinian people and Islamic sacred places, to activate the related United Nations resolutions, and to demand that Israeli authorities terminate policies and plans to "Judaizing"Al-Quds.

The Minister noted that the Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

The Cabinet approved a number of procedures as regards increasing the employment of women in fields that are suitable for them in government bodies, including the following:

First: The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation shall work on increasing the absorptive capacity of technical and vocational training in areas that are suitable for women such as computer, office work and occupational activities at women's detentions and care houses.

Second: The concerned authorities shall expand educational health programs for women, intensify such programs and create e-employment that enables women to work from home. The concerned authorities shall also expedite the process of making kindergarten as an integral part of the route of education and limit employment in such fields to women.

Third: The Ministry of Education and other concerned authorities shall take administrative and regulatory measures to ensure jobs at women education sectors be accorded to women.

The Cabinet approved a number of procedures as regards restructuring the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO), including the following:

First: The name of the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) shall be changed to become the Saudi Commission for Specifications, Standards and Quality. The post title "Director General of Organization" shall be changed to become "Governor of the Commission".

Second: The administrative organization of the Saudi Commission for Specifications, Standards and Quality shall be in accordance with the structure annexed to the decision.

Third: The task of granting a sign of quality for all materials and products including food products and medicines shall be part of the jurisdiction of the Saudi Commission for Specifications, Standards and Quality, provided that the Commission take into account the technical requirements and specifications issued in this regard by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

The Cabinet approved a number of procedures as regards the provision of gasoline for the people of Farasan Island, including the following:

First: The maximum price for maritime transport of fuel between Jazan Port and Farasan Island Port shall be 10 Halalas per liter; competitors may reduce prices.

Second: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs shall offer its lands in Farasan Island for private sector investments.

The Cabinet approved the final account of National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) for the fiscal year 1426/1427 H.

The Cabinet approved the license for the establishment of Yanbu Water and Electricity Company (joint stock company) in accordance with its statute annexed to the decision.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a message from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

The message was delivered by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem during an audience in Rawdhat Khuraim.

The Minister conveyed the greetings of the Syrian President to the King. In turn, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent his greetings to the President.

The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; and Ammar Al-Sabbagh, Chargé d'Affaires of Syrian Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner met in Paris with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

During the meeting, bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed in addition to the current international and regional issues, led by the Palestinian issue.

In a joint press conference with the French Foreign Minister following the meeting, Prince Saud Al-Faisal expressed hope that the Palestinian reconciliation would be achieved and that the Egyptian initiative would succeed before the next Arab summit to enable the Arab nation to proceed to what preserves the legitimate interests of the Arab and Palestinian peoples.

He described the visit of the Syrian Foreign Minister to the Kingdom as very positive. He quoted the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as saying that "we have dug a deep grave where we buried our differences. We will never discuss the past but rather look forward for the future".

He added that this move comes within the framework of the call by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for reconciliation on fair bases that meet the aspirations of the Arab peoples. Now definitely, there will be contacts after this visit, Prince Saud stated.

In response to a question, the Saudi Foreign Minister described the statements issued in Iran about the Kingdom of Bahrain as worrying. However, the Iranian Minister of Interior's visit to Bahrain to reaffirm his country's recognition of Bahrain as a sovereign independent state is an end of this problem, he said, adding that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was never playing part in igniting fire after it was put off.

He expressed hope that such statements will not come to the surface as they are detrimental to Iran in the first place.

In response to another question, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said that for any Israeli peace-seeking government to be committed to treat Palestinians as human beings and not consider them a field for experiments and practice killings and humiliation on them.

If Israel wants peace, it should live in peace with the Palestinians, otherwise matters will go to the worse, he explained.

As for Afghanistan, he said the Asian country needs peace, development, stability and economic development and not military action.

He said view points of the Kingdom and France on these issues were almost identical.

For his part, the French minister underscored the importance of setting up a Palestinian state, calling on Israel to follow the path of peace.

We extremely count on the forthcoming donors summit in Egypt and that it should be preceded by a strong indication on the unity of Palestinians, he said.

President Bashar al-Assad discussed with European Union High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana the Syrian-EU relations where stress was made on the necessity for moving forward in upgrading these relations and consolidating them for fulfilling the interests of the two sides and contributing to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

The latest developments on regional and international arenas , particularly the tragic situation in which the Palestinian people are living in Gaza Strip due to the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza, were discussed.

Talks focused on the combination of the Arab-European efforts for rebuilding Gaza Strip , lifting the Israeli siege, opening all the crossings , and achieving the Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation .

Solana described Syria's role as pivotal in finding solutions for the problems of the region. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister, Walid Moallem , Presidential and Media Advisor , Boutheina Shaaban , Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdul –Fattah Ammora , and the two EU and Czech ambassadors to Syria. In this framework, Foreign Minister, Walid Moallem met Solana.

In a joint press conference with Foreign Minister al-Moallem, Mr. Solana underlined that he held very good talks with President al-Assad on the Syrian-EU relations and all issues that were discussed.

"I came out with a feeling that there will be a possibility to move forwards in cooperation with Syria and I hope there will be an opportunity to come back to Damascus to say that the issues which we wished to be achieved have been achieved," Solana said.

For his part, Minister al-Moallem said Mr. Solana held a constructive and fruitful meeting with President al-Assad, during which talks dealt with bilateral relations between Syria and the EU, latest regional developments following the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the necessity of confirming the cease fire, open crossing points and lifting the siege imposed on Gaza.

Foreign Minister underlined the importance of realizing a Palestinian reconciliation and the importance of the currently-held dialogue in Cairo, wishing to make 2009 a fruitful year in the direction of the region's security and stability.

On the talks held with the Saudi Foreign Minister Emir Saud al-Faisal, Minister al-Moallem said "the dialogue was constructive and fruitful, and it was natural to deal with the situation in Lebanon," adding "viewpoints were identical on the importance of working to boost its security and stability and run the elections as schedule.

As for the EU's readiness to conduct a dialogue with HAMAS in light of the efforts exerted to achieve peace in the region, Minister al-Moallem said "we appreciate any possible effort exerted by the EU and we will cooperate with it in this role."

"We are talking about a Palestinian national unity government or a Palestinian national reconciliation government and this is one of the items of the dialogue currently held in Cairo, and events have proven that HAMAS is a real fact in Gaza and the West Bank, and it is a part of the Palestinian people and we aspire it to join the Palestinian Liberation Organization."

On the possibility of making a progress in the dialogue with the US new Administration, the Minister said that the job of the Foreign Minister requires him to be optimistic, but the experiment has taught us to be always aware.

As for the efforts of the Arab reconciliation, Minister al-Moallem said "we are going in the correct direction," underlining that President al-Assad exerts every possible effort to restore the Arab solidarity as he believes in the necessity of this solidarity to fortify the Arab stance.

Regarding his expectations on Syria's participation in the Palestinian dialogue during the coming stage, al-Moallem underlined that Syria will attend Sharm al-Sheikh conference and will be present at any conference to be held on Gaza reconstruction.

"Through our contacts with the Palestinian factions, we are exerting every possible effort to make the Palestinian dialogue a success," Foreign Minister added.

As for the possibility of achieving peace in the region in light of the coming of Obama Administration and a rightist government to the rule in Israel, the Minister said that any side who won't contribute to realizing a just and comprehensive peace according to the international legitimacy and the Land-for-Peace formula will eventually loss and fail.

Minister al-Moallem underlined the necessity of punishing Israel for its practices of genocide and war crimes that contradict the international human law.

Whether his talks in Riyadh referred to the international tribunal or not, the Minister said "the issue of the international tribunal was not proposed during the talks with Saudi Minister al-Faisal, particularly because the two sides consider this issue a matter between Lebanon and the UN."

Solana, for his part, said "We, in 2009, aspire to exert all possible efforts to make this year constructive for stability in the region, and as Minister al-Moallem said, we are in front of very important meetings including Sharm al-Sheikh conference on the donating countries with the participation of 80 countries."

"I'm very pleased that Minister al-Moallem returned back from Saudi Arabia, and I hope these visits and discussions will be constructive for what we want of peace and stability in the region," Solana added.

On the European stance towards a Palestinian national unity government including HAMAS, Solana said "we support the efforts exerted to form a national consensus government which was referred to at Kuwait Summit and we hope this target will be achieved."

As for the possibility of outlining a time for signing the Syrian-EU Association Agreement, Mr. Solana said "I couldn't give a specified time on the final date of signing the Agreement… there were very constructive talks on this agreement and a number of EU officials have visited Damascus, lately the visit of Mrs. Waldner."

Regarding Syria's participation in Sharm al-Sheikh conference, the EU official said "our cooperation with Syria is very constructive and I expect the Conference will come out with important commitments to rebuild Gaza."

President Abdullah Gül is planning to visit Israel after relations entered a major crisis over the deadly Gaza operation in January. The president is also planning to visit Israel's foe Iran to attend an international summit next month as well as neighboring Iraq, sources at Gül's office said.

Planning on the date, however, is still in the initial stages. Officials told Today's Zaman that the date of the trip to Israel, as well as to Palestine, will be determined after the current post-election uncertainty in Israel passes.

Long before the Gaza crisis erupted, Gül had planned to visit Israel in January. But he had to postpone the planned trip to Israel, as well as Russia and Iraq, due to a recurring ear ailment. Doctors in December advised him to avoid flights for at least a month, forcing Gül to shelve his Israel, Iraq and Russia trips. Since then, Gül visited Russia on Feb. 12-15, but plans to visit Iraq and Israel are still pending.

"The visit [to Israel] was never cancelled; it was postponed. Theoretically speaking, it is still on the agenda," said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity. A report in the Israeli Haaretz daily said that Gül's visit could take place in the latter half of the year and return relations to where they were.

President Abdullah Gül and his Israeli counterpart, Shimon Peres, are seen together in this 2007 photo. Gül reportedly sent a note to Peres earlier this month, saying he is interested in visiting Israel.

Turkey and Israel are regional allies and their militaries cooperate closely. Relations took a nosedive after Israel launched its Gaza operation, killing more than 1,300 Palestinians. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan severely criticized Israel, saying it should be barred from the UN. He walked out of a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, after a heated exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres, telling him, "When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill." Tension rose further when Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi responded to Erdoğan and told him to "look into the mirror" before criticizing Israel. The IDF and the Foreign Ministry later clarified that the general's remarks do not reflect Israel's official stance.

President Gül is also expected to pay his delayed visit to Iraq soon, probably in March, according to the sources. In the initial plans, Gül was expected to visit not only Baghdad but also Arbil, the regional capital of the Kurdish region, the troubled northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and Shiite-dominated Basra. This time, on the other hand, it is more likely that the visit will be confined to Baghdad only.

In addition to Israel and Iraq, Gül also has plans to visit Tehran to represent Turkey at a summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). The summit will be attended by heads of state or government of 10 countries and is to focus on the global economic crisis and regional developments as well as on projects that will deepen economic cooperation and regional integration. The ECO is an international organization of 10 countries; namely, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Later in March, Gül will pay his first visit to Brussels since his election as president in 2007. Gül will be the guest of honor at a European business gathering.