By Saud Abu Ramadan
From
the International
Desk
Published
5/25/2002 3:39 PM
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GAZA, May 25 (UPI) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Saturday that holding a peace conference to solve the conflict in the Middle East is essential not only to the Israelis or Palestinians, but to the whole region, Palestinian radio reported.
The peace conference had to be based on the Saudi Arabian peace initiative proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah, he said. "This initiative that was adopted by the last Beirut Arab summit is the base for a settlement to solve the conflict."
Arafat also discussed the growing movement for reform of the Palestinian National Authority, saying the restructuring would take place based on his speech before the PNA parliament on May 15.
However, no elections, municipal or presidential, would occur until the Israeli army pulled out from the PNA-controlled areas captured since hostilities re-ignited 20 months ago.
Meanwhile, PNA Minister of Finance Mohamed Nashashibi said all the Palestinian political factions and groups would participate in the municipal and parliamentarian, including presidential, elections that are supposed to be held by the coming winter.
"But we can't have any kind of elections under the current Israeli occupation measures of occupying territories and imposing tightened closures and restrictions," he said.
Nashashibi called upon the United States to send CIA head George Tenet to the region as soon as possible "to study the situation and help the parties implementing signed agreements."
President Bush announced earlier this month he planned to sent Tenet to the Middle East to help the Palestinian Authority restructure its fractured security forces.
Copyright © 2002 United Press International
