Abbas, Israeli defence minister talk at Socialist Intl congress

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LAGONISSI, Greece (AFP) — Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Socialist International congress in Greece.

"I would like to salute the pragmatism of Mr Abbas, who wants to adopt with us a common strategy to contain terrorism," said Barak a few minutes after the meeting, according to a translation of his remarks.

For his part, Abbas called upon Israel to end its "siege" of Jerusalem, act on Jewish settlements, and reduce the number of military checkpoints which "destroy the lives of thousands of Palestinians".

Both men were to meet separately with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis as the congress, which opened Monday in this Greek seaside town,...