Paris: President Mahmoud Abbas engaged in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the final arrangements for the International Peace Conference set to take place in New York on September 22. The conversation aimed to ensure the conference's success and the achievement of its objectives.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, President Abbas expressed his gratitude to President Macron and the French Republic for their leadership, alongside Saudi Arabia, in organizing the conference. The collaboration has successfully garnered broad international support for the recognition of the State of Palestine.
President Abbas appreciated efforts to take decisive steps to end the Israeli occupation, implement the two-state solution, and provide support to the State of Palestine in building state institutions and reform programs. He reaffirmed his commitment to the national reform program and the pledges made by Palestine in a letter to the conference's presidency on June 9.
The reform initiatives include holding presidential and parliamentary elections in 2026, drafting a temporary Palestinian constitution within three months, amending the election law, and ensuring the principle of one state, one law, and one weapon. Abbas emphasized the need for Hamas to disarm and transfer its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, stating, "We do not want an armed state."
Both leaders discussed the dangers of unilateral measures that violate international law, such as settlement activities and colonist terrorism. They warned against the annexation of the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and rejected assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites. Coordination between both sides is set to continue.
