国际英语新闻：Abass, Mubarak discuss efforts exerted for resuming direct talks

CAIRO, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak discussed here on Thursday with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abass on the latest efforts exerted to resume direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

During their summit talks, the two leaders reviewed the extensive efforts exerted to create atmosphere required for resuming direct talks between Israel and Palestinians in a bid to achieve the two-state solution, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.

Abass informed Mubarak the outcome of his last meeting with U.S. Middle East special envoy George Mitchell during the latter's tour to the region with the aim of resuming direct negotiation.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 12, 2010. Their talks come within the framework of efforts aimed at reviving the Middle East peace process.

The summit talks came as part of efforts exerted by President Mubarak to achieve tangible results to push forward the stalled Mideast peace process, MENA reported.

The United States has been exerting pressures on Palestinians to shift immediately from indirect talks to face-to-face negotiation with Israel. However, Abass insisted on the necessity of achieving progress in indirect talks on security and border issues before moving to direct negotiations.

Abass and Mitchell met on Tuesday in Ramallah, but both failed to agree on going to direct talks. However, Mitchell said a new step towards peacemaking has been made.

Mitchell informed Abass that the U.S. has accepted in principle the proposal that the Quartet issues a statement defining a reference for direct peace talks with Israel.

The Palestinians demand starting direct negotiations on the basis of the Quartet statement issued in March which call for the necessity of establishing the Palestinian state on 1967 boarders, determining time frame for negotiation and suspending settlement activates in Eastern Jerusalem.

Mubarak is scheduled to meet later Thursday in Cairo with Jordan's King Abdullah II to discuss the possibility of resuming Israel-Palestinian direct.