January 14, 2005

ABU MAZEN PRESIDENT ACCORDING TO ELECTION RESULTS SEEN BY THE WORLD AS A START THAT SHOULD LEAD TO PEACE. THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP CONGRATULATES ABBAS AND HOPES THAT ELECTING HIM WILL BE AN INCENTIVE TO ACHIEVE THE JUST PEACE. BUSH AND PUTIN INVITE ABU MAZEN TO VISIT WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CALL FOR A SERIOUS ROUND OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. ISRAEL'S LEADERS DEAL OBSCURELY WITH THE STAGE AND EVADE FROM THE FUTURE COMMITMENTS. The Palestinian Central Elections Committee announced the winning of the candidate of the Fatah movement and chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas, officially in the presidential elections which took place on Sunday. Abbas obtained 62.32 per cent of votes cast, far ahead of his nearest rival Mustafa Barghuti who won 19.8 per cent, the figures by the central elections commission (CEC) said. Abbas received 483,039 votes, while 153,516 people voted for Barghuti, who stood as an independent. Tayssir Khaled, standing for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) won 3.5 per cent of the votes, People's Party candidate Bassam Salhi 2.69 per cent, independent candidate Abdelhalim Al-Ashqar 2.68 per cent, Sayyed Barakah (independent Islamist) 1.27 per cent and Abdelkarim Shubeir (independent) 0.67 per cent. Another 3.79 per cent of ballots were spoiled, and 3.2 per cent were blank, CEC statistics showed. Announcing the official results, CEC president Hana Nasser said that 775,146 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as occupied and annexed east Jerusalem had cast a ballot on Sunday but he refused to give the official turnout figures. Nasser said late Sunday that the participation rate among the 1.1 million registered voters had reached 70 per cent. However, only 10 per cent of non-registered voters, who numbered around 700,000 and who had the right to vote, had taken part in the ballot, he said. The 775,146 Palestinians who participated in the vote represented only 43 per cent of the 1.8 million Palestinians who had the right to vote. Abbas said that he was offering the hand of peace to Israel after his overwhelming victory in the presidential election. "We offer the hand of peace to our neighbours and we hope that the response will be positive," Abbas said during a reception for international observers who monitored Sunday's election. "The elections are only the beginning, not the end. We have a programme full of things to do in order to achieve peace." Abbas reiterated his commitment to the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan, which targets the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. "We are committed to the peace process based on the Road Map." Abbas held talks earlier in the morning with the current Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, having already said he would ask him to remain as the head of a new-look government. Commenting on Abbas's victory, Qorei told reporters it was "a triumph for our people, who have chosen the path of peace, democracy and national unity." Abbas himself vowed to end the suffering of the Palestinian people after proclaiming victory late Sunday, dedicating the result to his old boss Arafat. "I will work to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people for they are a people who deserve our esteem, our respect and our loyalty." The Saudi leadership congratulated the new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on the occasion of the trust bestowed on him by his people and choosing him president of the Palestinian Authority. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Mahmood Abbas on the occasion of his election as President of the Palestinian Authority. In his cable, King Fahd congratulated Abu Mazen on the trust bestowed on him by the Palestinian people to lead their march and to realize their aspirations in the establishment of an independent state on their homeland. Similar cables were also sent to Abbas by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. During a phone call, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt congratulated Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on the occasion of his victory in the Palestinian presidential elections. The Egyptian President also pointed out that the elections were free and fair as testified by international observers who represented many world nations and regional and international organizations. Presidential Spokesman Soliman Awad said that President Mubarak asserted that the Palestinian elections represent an important phase in the history of the Palestinian people and a step towards realizing their aspirations in establishing their independent state and restoring their legitimate rights. He pledged to continue support for the Palestinian cause and contacts with the new Palestinian leadership in order to endorse efforts that aim at ending the suffering of the Palestinian people and promoting the peacemaking, he added. President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria sent a message of congratulations to Abbas on his victory. The Syrian President expressed felicitations over the confidence granted to Abbas by electorate of Palestinian people hoping the result would be a forefront to the establishment of the Palestinian State and to liberate Palestinian detainees from Israeli Jails. King Mohammed VI of Morocco voiced support to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, whom he described as a "great statesman," in a congratulation message on the occasion of his election Sunday as Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority. King Mohammed VI of Morocco who spoke on the phone to the new leader, expressed, in his capacity of President of the Al Quds (Jerusalem) Committee, his support and that of the Moroccan people to the Palestinian people's right to recover "all its legitimate rights." King Abdullah II of Jordan telephoned the new President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas and congratulated him on his election as PNA President. King Abdullah stressed Jordan's keenness on supporting Abbas' efforts, which aim at achieving the aspirations of the Palestinian people and establishing their viable independent state. Minister of Culture and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader said that Jordan welcomes the Palestinian presidential elections outcome conducted on Monday. It was free, impartial and democratic elections despite obstacles hampered the process, Khader added. In her weekly meeting with media representatives Khader renewed Jordan's role in supporting brotherly Palestinians. The Palestinian elections are deemed an important step to achieve Palestinian people aspirations in establishing their independent viable state with Jerusalem its capital, Khader noted. 'Jordan was and will be ready to offer every possible aid to Palestinians through the Arab cooperation or by pushing the peace process forward to achieve progress on the ground, Khader told reporters. In Abu Dhabi, Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a cable to Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, in which he congratulated him on winning the Palestinian presidential elections, which were conducted on Sunday. Sheikh Khalifa wished Abbas all the success in serving the Palestinian Cause and achieving the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum also sent a similar cable to Mahmoud Abbas. Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Rahman Al Atiyah, welcomed the election of Head of PLO, Mahmood Abbas, Abu Mazen, as president of Palestine, describing him as " the person who wins the trust of the Palestinians to be successor of late leader, Yasser Arafat". In a statement issued by the GCC Secretariat General, Atiyah considered the election of Mahmood Abbas in such a transparent democratic way as a positive step towards establishing an independent Palestinian state, expressing hope that the newly elected President would succeed in reinforcing internal security, enhancing the role of political institutions and taking advantage of the favourable conditions to serve the Palestinian cause. Atiyah reiterated the unflinching stances of the GCC sates that support the Palestinians in their just cause. In Cairo, Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa welcomed the convocation of the Palestinian presidential elections, considering them an evidence of the democratic inclination of Palestinian people. In press statements he said the elections proved that the Palestinians have institutions capable of administering the democratic process. He criticized Israeli hurdles to the elections, especially in East Jerusalem, saying the international monitoring of the elections should not have ignored these serious hurdles that proved to the entire world that Israel is only trying to tighten its fist on the occupied city. Moussa said that the Arab League will continue to work hard to regain the Palestinian rights in accordance with the Arab initiative adopted at Beirut summit in 2002. In Washington, US President George Bush offered to meet at the White House with newly elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Bush also congratulated Abbas in a phone call and said, according to a spokesman, that he envisioned ''a day when he and president-elect Abbas and Israel's leaders could stand together and say, 'We have peace.''' Bush said, ''I think it's going to be very important for Israel to fulfill its obligation on the withdrawal from the territories that they have pledged to withdraw from.'' ''It is essential that Israel keep a vision of two states living side-by-side in peace, and that, as the Palestinians begin to develop the institutions of a state, that the Israel government support the development of those institutions,'' Bush said. Bush extended an invitation for Abbas to visit the White House when Abbas ''felt it was a good time to come,'' said press secretary Scott McClellan. The US President showed his readiness to help the elected Palestinian President and to work with him for the resumption of the peace talks and described the elections as free and transparent. Bush called on Israel to improve the humanitarian and economic conditions for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. He also called on the Arab states to take serious steps to prevent the access of aids to the Palestinian groups which attack Israel. Russian President Vladimir Putin expresses his assurance the Abu Mazen's political rich experience will allow him to implement the message delegated to him by the Palestinian people to fulfil his hopes in establishing an independent Palestinian state lives side by side with Israel in peace and security. The Russian President invited Mahmoud Abbas to pay an official visit to Moscow. Chairman of the EU commission Josip Parozo considered the elections as a very important step towards the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state. In Israel there is a mood of cautious optimism drifting across the country. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has indicated he is willing to meet Abbas swiftly. However, he underlined that he expected the new leader to crack down on militants such as Hamas. "The main thing that needs to be concentrated on now, following yesterday's election, is that the Palestinians take action in the field of terrorism," Sharon said. Yet the Israeli premier reiterated that he was prepared to coordinate aspects of his plan to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four isolated enclaves in the West Bank with the new Palestinian administration. Israel too will need to make concessions, and gestures of good faith, to strengthen Mr Abbas's hand with his own people. The question is whether the majority of Israelis are prepared to do so. One move sure to win Palestinian confidence would be to ease travel restrictions within the Palestinian territories. But many in the Israeli government say Mr Abbas will need to act first, by cracking down on militants. Another gesture that would go down well with the Palestinians would be to involve their new leadership in Sharon's plan to withdraw all Jewish settlers from Gaza in the coming year. But it is a gesture that may not go down so well in Israel. Some on the political right in Israel are already angry at the plans, which they see as "giving in to terrorism". Co-ordinating the withdrawal with the Palestinians would be seen by them as an even greater defeat. It may well prove easier for Israel to draw up a chair at the negotiating table opposite Mahmoud Abbas. But the end game remains the same - what to do about the key final status issues like the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes, the borders of a Palestinian state, the expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the status of East Jerusalem. Abbas will find it just as hard as late President Yasser Arafat to sell any concessions on these issues to either the politicians, or the people back home. Abbas extended his hand in peace, his first gesture toward Israel since his landslide victory in presidential elections. His remarks added further to the sense of optimism felt in the region since Abbas' election. The victory, which capped a peaceful transition of power after the Nov. 11 death of Arafat, has raised hopes around the world that peace talks could soon resume. ''We extend our hands to our neighbours,'' Abbas declared late Monday. ''We are ready for peace, peace based on justice. We hope that their response will be positive.'' Sharon welcomed Abbas' victory but said he will watch closely how hard he tries to subdue militants. ''He will be tested based on the way in which he fights terrorism and dismantles their infrastructure,'' Sharon said.