Extracts. Palestinian Leadership Hails Mitchell Report The Palestinian National Authority hailed on Monday the recommendations of Mitchell Commission on ending the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The PNA hails the recommendations of Mitchell Commission including a total freeze on Jewish settlement construction and a halt to violence against the Palestinian people," said a statement issued by PNA spokesman, of which Xinhua received a copy. The statement also praised the naming of two envoys by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to help Israel and the Palestinians implement the recommendations. "The PNA welcomes also the naming of the two envoys who will contact with the concerned parties to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations," the statement said. "The PNA believes that it is necessary to hold an emergency meeting by the parties of Sharm el Sheikh summit, which set up the Mitchell Commission, and the co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, to discuss the mechanisms of implementing recommendations notably the total freeze of Jewish settlement expansion," it added. "The PNA still believes that the Egyptian-Jordanian peace initiative is a sound basis that could integrate with the Mitchell report," he pointed out. The fact-finding commission, headed by former US senator George Mitchell, presented its findings in New York earlier Monday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, a freeze on Jewish settlement and more determined actions against terrorism from the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called US Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday evening on the latest developments and the international efforts to stop "the Israeli aggression" against the Palestinian people and the PNA," according to a PNA official. "Arafat is scheduled to meet European Union High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Common Security Javier Solana in Gaza, the third leg in Solana's tour of the region," the Palestinian official added. Solana is visiting Syria after Egypt, where Solana warned earlier Monday that the situation in the Middle East could further deteriorate. **** Chief of General Staff Meets Indian Guests Fu Quanyou, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, met here Monday with AY Tipnis, chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, and his party. Fu, also a member of the Central Military Commission, said that China and India have shared common interests in international and regional affairs, and the two sides have more similarities than differences. He added that Sino-Indian good-neighborly relations conform to the fundamental interests of the two countries, and benefit regional and world peace and stability. Fu expressed gratitude for the support of the Indian government towards China on the issues of human rights and Taiwan. On Sino-Indian military relations, Fu said that the contacts between the two armed forces promote mutual understanding and trust, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army is ready to work with its Indian counterpart to develop friendly relations. Tipnis said that it is important for both India and China to strengthen contact, adding that India is willing to further its cooperation with China on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. **** Taiwan People Protest on Chen Anniversary Over 3000 people staged a "May 20 Peaceful Demonstration" under heavy rain, calling for Taiwan authorities to follow "One China" principle by resuming cross-Straits negotiations and stopping buying arms from the US so as to boost the island economy. Wearing raincoats and red bands carrying "peaceful demonstration" on their foreheads, the marchers waved banners and shouted slogans as "Waving policies, Collapsing economy", "Follow 'One China', Resume negotiations", " Want 'Three Direct Links' ", " Stop arms from US, Boost Taiwan economy" etc. A marcher said that Taiwan authority should use money on improving economy and promoting employment, instead of buying arms and "disasters" from the US. Another marcher voiced his disappointment toward the Democratic Progressive Party, who once believed the Party would bring stability and prosperity to the island province when it took the place of KMT one year ago. **** Tibet to Mark 50th Anniversary of Peaceful Liberation Major programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/tibet.html> will be launched in the Tibet Autonomous Region, May 21-23. This was announced by the Tibet Autonomous Region Office for the celebration on Sunday. The programs will include a forum for the witnesses of the peaceful liberation to discuss the significance of the historic event, a ceremony on the issuance of IC cards of Tibetan costume, and a forum attended by local patriots. On May 23, the very day when the agreement for the peaceful liberation was signed 50 years ago, a grand National Flag-raising ceremony will be held with the participation of 5,000 people. Also on May 23, leading officials of the Tibet Autonomous Region and representatives of various ethic groups in Tibet will attend a forum to share their views on the historic significance of the peaceful liberation and its impact on the future. Celebrations will also include a grand reception and art performances on the evening on May 23. Local people will hold over 30 celebration activities in Lhasa, the regional capital, and five other prefectures of Tibet. A special website has been opened for celebrating the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. **** Chinese Residing in Moscow Condemn Taiwan's Separatist Attempts Hundreds of overseas Chinese in Moscow held a meeting Sunday in Moscow, strongly condemning the Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> authorities' moves to break the island away from its motherland China. At the meeting "Against Taiwan's Independence and For China's Reunification" held at the Moscow's "Hotel of Great Wall", the participants unanimously criticized the "Taiwan leader" Chen Shuibian's behaviors in the past year and his attempts to sever the close ties between China's mainland and Taiwan. They stressed that reunification of the whole country is the common wish of the Chinese people and conforms to the development trend of history. Honorary Chairman of the Union of Overseas Chinese in Moscow Han Cunli said at the opening of the meeting, "If Chen Shuibian continues to go his own way in splitting the motherland, he will inevitably become person condemned by the entire Chinese nation." Zou Hougong, head of the Committee of Overseas Chinese in Russia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/russia.html> on Accelerating China's Peaceful Reunification, said that he, like other old Chinese residing abroad, has been longing for an early reunification of the motherland since his young ages. "The policies of 'peaceful reunification' and 'one country, two systems' pursued by the Chinese government is absolutely right and widely supported by the Chinese people throughout the world," he said. "Taiwan's separatists are running counter to the wish of the people and the trend of history, and will certainly come to a disgraceful end," he said. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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