Bush makes show of support for Abbas

By Staff
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NEW YORK, Sep 20 (Reuters) President George W Bush praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today for his efforts to form a national unity government and Abbas pleaded for US assistance, saying ''we are in dire need.'' Bush and Abbas met for 40 minutes on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Bush called Abbas a ''man of peace'' -- a show of support for the Palestinian moderate, whose Fatah Party lost elections last January to the militant group Hamas, which wants to destroy the state of Israel.

''I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown,'' Bush told him. ''I assure you that our government wants to work with you in order so that you're capable of delivering the vision that so many Palestinians long for.'' The United States is warily watching Abbas' struggle to form a government, which would include both Hamas and Fatah.

A top presidential aide, Elliott Abrams of the National Security Council, said Bush stuck to his insistence that the unity government meet international demands to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace accords.

The United States has spearheaded an international aid embargo against the Palestinian Authority since Hamas took over the government earlier this year.

Washington has said it will not deal with Hamas unless it fulfills the three conditions laid down by the Quartet -- the informal group coordinating Middle East peace efforts whose members are the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

Abbas pleaded for help and support for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

''Mr. President, we look forward to your support and your help and your aid because we are in dire need for your help and support,'' he said.

'CANDID' TALKS Abbas's aide, Nabil Abu Rdainah, called the meeting with Bush candid and in-depth and that Abbas told Bush of his efforts to form a unity government that respects previous agreements with Israel.

He also asked Bush to reactivate the long-stalled ''road map'' plan envisioning a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel, the aide said.

Abrams said Bush told Abbas several times he wants a way for Abbas to be able to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and move toward respecting previous agreements, which Hamas does not recognize.

''The president commended him on his efforts to find a way out of a very difficult Palestinian political situation,'' Abrams said.

''The president welcomed his efforts and told him he certainly hopes they succeed in producing a Palestinian government with which we and the others in the international community could work.'' Bush said yesterday Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would lead a new mission to foster moderate Arab support for reforming Palestinian security services and helping Israel and the Palestinians resolve their differences.

Bush's announcement was certain to raise skepticism in the region, but it still marked the first time in months Washington had shown interest in re-engaging diplomatically in the seemingly intractable conflict.

Distracted by war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the month-long Israel-Hizbollah war, the Bush administration had let Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking slip down the US agenda.

But Bush is now talking about trying to revive, at least to some extent, Washington's traditional diplomatic role, as part of a larger effort to empower Middle East moderates.

REUTERS PB PM2228

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