Hungarian, Palestinian presidents seek peace, autonomy for Palestine

Autonomy for Palestine, the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the current upheavals in the Arab world were the focus of talks between Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority and Hungarian President Pal Schmitt in Budapest on Monday.

Abbas congratulated Hungary on its European Union presidency, which he said, allowed Hungary to play an outstanding role in the Middle East peace process. He underlined that his country insisted on becoming an independent state, but added that negotiations had to be with Israel.

Asked for his views on the international air strikes in Libya, Abbas sidestepped the question, saying only that the Palestinian National Authority's position was that of non-intervention in the political events of the Arab world.

Schmitt called for continued negotiations between Israel and Palestine, saying he hoped the outcome would be two independent states that were on friendly terms with one another.

The Palestinian president arrived in Budapest on Sunday for a two-day official visit. He immediately met with Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi to discuss the possible impact of events in North Africa on the Middle East peace process.

Source: Xinhua

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