{"id":186,"date":"2012-01-22T16:06:43","date_gmt":"2012-01-22T16:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/?p=186"},"modified":"2016-12-23T16:58:30","modified_gmt":"2016-12-23T16:58:30","slug":"transcript-of-prime-minister-and-president-abbas-meeting-speeches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20120122-transcript-of-prime-minister-and-president-abbas-meeting-speeches","title":{"rendered":"Transcript of Prime Minister and President Abbas meeting speeches"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Britain and the Palestinian Authority have very good and strong relations.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Prime Minister David Cameron:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a great pleasure to welcome President Abbas back to Number 10 Downing Street.\u00a0 Britain and the Palestinian Authority have very good and strong relations and last year we upgraded our diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority.<\/p>\n

Britain wants to see a two-state solution come about.\u00a0 We are passionate about this; we do everything we can to push and promote this agenda at every available opportunity.\u00a0 I spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister after the New Year and I am delighted to have the Palestinian President here today.<\/p>\n

We believe the peace talks that have begun in Jordan do provide an opportunity \u2013 an opportunity we hope that both sides will pursue.\u00a0 We think this is absolutely vital.<\/p>\n

Obviously, as a friend of Israel and a friend of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, we want to see a strong, democratic, peaceful Israel alongside a strong, democratic and peaceful Palestine.\u00a0 We believe that is achievable, but we can\u2019t achieve it without the two parties coming together and talking and discussing.\u00a0 In the end, this two-state solution can only come about from the two parties talking to each other.\u00a0 We cannot want it more than you want it.<\/p>\n

So, we wish you well.\u00a0 We will do everything we can to help promote these discussions.\u00a0 We think that time, in some ways, is running out for the two?state solution unless we can push forward now, because otherwise the facts on the ground will make it more and more difficult, which is why the settlement issue remains so important.<\/p>\n

But we wish you well; we hope the talks can continue and we hope that the two-state solution that we strongly support can be achieved and we say that as a friend of Israel but also a very strong friend of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, and indeed as major donors to the Palestinian Authority and the institutions that you are so successfully building up.\u00a0 But President Abbas, you are very welcome here again.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Mahmoud Abbas\u00a0(via interpreter):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u00a0 Thank you very much.\u00a0 Thank you very much Prime Minister.\u00a0 We are indeed very happy to be here and I would like to thank you for the invitation.\u00a0 And I would like to thank you also on behalf of the populace, on your stance vis-\u00e1-vis Palestine, on your support for the solution which we also \u2013 the two-state solution.<\/p>\n

You have indeed played a very, very important role in building our Palestinian institutions and this we can witness through the assistance that you have been offering us.<\/p>\n

Of course, nothing can be achieved without negotiations.\u00a0 As you know, there are negotiations going on right now because of the initiative that King Abdullah II of Jordan has taken.\u00a0 We are optimistic about those negotiations and at the same time we hope that there will be something tangible as a result of these negotiations.<\/p>\n

Of course, time is of the essence; there must be speed, we must be fast in achieving those things because the settlements and the whole thing will go on \u2013 seeing the settlements going on, is going to help everything; it\u2019s what stands in the face of everything at the same time.\u00a0 So, settlements have to stop.\u00a0 Settlements have to stop in order for us to be able to continue our negotiations; to come to some sort of solution and a solution which will encompass the vision of the Palestinian state to come in the future.<\/p>\n

I personally know very well that you have a very balanced relationship, be that towards Israel or the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 This at the same time is of great importance because you could play a political role, so to speak, so that we can find the balance that we all want to seek.\u00a0 We always need your help, sir.\u00a0 As we need your help and I am indeed very happy to be here with you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Britain and the Palestinian Authority have very good and strong relations.” Prime Minister David Cameron: \u201cWell, it\u2019s a great pleasure to welcome President Abbas back to Number 10 Downing Street.\u00a0 Britain and the Palestinian Authority have very good and strong…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[9,3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/david-cameron.jpg?fit=1200%2C760&quality=80&strip=all&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20150406-labour-mps-press-the-government-on-un-recognition-of-palestine","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":0},"title":"Labour MPs press the Government on UN recognition of Palestine","date":"6th April 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"During this week\u2019s Foreign Office and Commonwealth Questions in House of Commons, Labour MPs pressed the Foreign Secretary William Hague on the issue of the \u2018recognition\u2019 of Palestine at the UN in September. Labour MPs Margaret Curran and Sandra Osborne tabled the question asking the Foreign Secretary \u201cWhat his policy\u2026","rel":"","context":"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/placeholder_grey.gif?quality=80&resize=350%2C200&strip=all#038;strip=all&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":147,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20110806-sandra-osborne-mp-diary-blog-of-visit-to-gaza","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":1},"title":"Sandra Osborne MP - Diary Blog of visit to Gaza","date":"6th August 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Gaza Visit \u2013 July 2011 Sandra Osborne MP visit to Gaza was organised by the Council for European Palestinian Relations and the delegation consisted of Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament. Below is a brief record of the visit with some commentary where appropriate. Background Peace and\u2026","rel":"","context":"","img":{"alt_text":"School children sign messages on the Palestinian flag in solidarity with the people in Gaza","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/School-children-sign-a-large-palestinian-flag-in-solidarity-with-gaza.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=80&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":37,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20161222-briefing-on-the-united-nations-vote-on-palestinian-statehood-and-un-membership-in-september","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":2},"title":"Briefing on the United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood and UN membership in September","date":"22nd December 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"After the Israelis refused to extend their settlement freeze last September, leading to the break-up of the peace talks, the Palestinian Authority announced that it would seek recognition as an independent state and membership of the United Nations at the General Assembly in September.\u00a0 Already well over 100 countries (representing\u2026","rel":"","context":"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/placeholder_grey.gif?quality=80&resize=350%2C200&strip=all#038;strip=all&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":140,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20110703-briefing-on-the-united-nations-vote-on-palestinian-statehood-and-un-membership-in-september-2","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":3},"title":"Briefing on the United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood and UN membership in September","date":"3rd July 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"After the Israelis refused to extend their settlement freeze last September, leading to the break-up of the peace talks, the Palestinian Authority announced that it would seek recognition as an independent state and membership of the United Nations at the General Assembly in September.\u00a0 Already well over 100 countries (representing\u2026","rel":"","context":"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Map-palestinian-loss-of-land-1946-2009.jpg?fit=1200%2C816&quality=80&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":126,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20110429-richard-burden-mp-welcomes-reconciliation-agreement","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":4},"title":"Richard Burden MP welcomes reconciliation agreement","date":"29th April 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Commenting on news reports that Fatah and Hamas have reached a reconciliation agreement, Richard Burden MP, Chair of the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, said: \u2018All of us who want to see a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict should welcome this news of Palestinian reconciliation. \u2018It is especially positive\u2026","rel":"","context":"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lfpme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/LFPME-logo-handshake.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=80&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":115,"url":"https:\/\/www.lfpme.org\/20110407-lfpme-hosts-its-third-annual-parliamentary-reception","url_meta":{"origin":186,"position":5},"title":"LFPME hosts it's third annual Parliamentary reception","date":"7th April 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Over 100 supporters as well as MPs and Lords attended the event, which was hosted by the new chair of the group, Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale. 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