Palestinian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Month
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Powell
made clear that a U.S. plan for reforming the Palestinian
security forces would be a theme of his talks |
NEW
DELHI, July 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell said Sunday, July 28, he will meet a Palestinian
delegation in Washington next month to discuss security reforms.
Speaking
at a press conference in New Delhi, Powell said the meeting would take
place on his return on August 4 from an eight-nation Asian tour.
Powell
made clear that a U.S. plan for reforming the Palestinian security
forces would be a theme of his talks.
“I
will be discussing with them security transformation, the work of the
task force we announced in New York,” said Powell, who is currently
in South Asia in a bid to reduce military tensions between India and
Pakistan, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
He
referred to meetings held earlier this month of senior officials from
the international diplomatic “quartet” on the Middle East - the
United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia - at
which a task force to assist Palestinian reforms was set up.
In
addition to the task force, the United States presented to the quartet
the outline of a plan to radically revamp the Palestinian security
apparatus and Powell said he would be presenting that plan in the near
future to both Israel and the Palestinians.
He
met with an Israeli delegation last week. Powell and White House
national security adviser Condoleezza Rice met two senior Israeli
officials on July 22 and went over a U.S. plan for reforming the
Palestinian security forces.
“This
is all consistent with the plan President [George W.] Bush has laid
out for the transformation of the Palestinian community.”
Powell
said the composition of the Palestinian delegation had not yet been
set.
But
in Ramallah Nabil Abu Rudeina, a top aide to Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat, said it would be headed by newly appointed interior
minister General Abdel Razaq Al-Yahiya and economy minister Maher
Al-Masri.
“I
hope that the people coming to see me will be those empowered to speak
for the Palestinian people and have the authority to execute any
decision we arrive at," Powell said.
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