First round of Palestinian talks 'direct, fraternal'
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah achieved a "direct and fraternal" discussion during two days of talks brokered by Senegal's president, the government of the West African country said.
In a statement released late Saturday, the office of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade called the talks a "dialogue aimed at leveling divergences and reconciling the Palestinian family."
The meeting between Hamas representative Emad Khalid Alamy and Fatah's Hikmat Zeid was the first round of what Senegal's government says is a planned seven rounds of talks.
Senegal's president pledged at a March summit of Islamic states held in the country's capital that he would undertake to mediate between the groups.
However, it is unclear if Wade has been fully embraced as a mediator. A Hamas official involved in negotiation efforts has said they would like either Egypt or the Cairo-based Arab League to agree to act as mediators.
Even so, a statement issued by Senegal and signed by both Alamy and Zeid suggested an amicable meeting.
"The Palestinian emissaries, after a direct and fraternal dialogue, thanked the facilitator for having succeeded at establishing an atmosphere of confidence and mutual respect between them concerning the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people," the statement said.
A spokeswoman for Senegal's presidency, Fat Tending, said the Hamas and Fatah representatives left on Saturday night.
Fatah has publicly played down the Senegal talks, even though Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has spoken recently of trying to mend relations with rival group Hamas.
An Abbas spokesman and Zeid both released statements on Saturday saying was he was sent to Senegal to represent the Palestinian Authority at the Islamic Summit, specifically skirting the issue of talks with Hamas.
Sami Khater of the Hamas political bureau in Damascus, Syria, confirmed the talks, but did not say what was discussed.
A Hamas official in Damascus said the talks aimed to "restore dialogue, rebuild confidence and mutual respect" between the two sides.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/09/2008 page6)
