By KUNA,
Gaza : Head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is due in the Syrian Capital, Damascus, Sunday where he is expected to meet his host and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, along with other officials.
Abbas’ visit comes part of PA efforts to explain the workings of a recently announced national dialog initiative, according to several Palestinian sources.
Radio Palestine meanwhile reports Abbass and Al-Assad are to discuss “the situation in the region and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the second item is of specific interest as Syria is a main part in the conflict as well as currently chairing over the Arab Summit.” Abbas is on a regional and international tour and communicating with Arab and foreign leaders, as well as Arab League, to follow up on and create a mechanism of implementation for the Yemeni initiative for dialog with Hamas, adopted as an Arab initiative in the latest summit in Damascus.
Reports are frequently filtering in that Damascus is trying to arrange a reconciliation meeting between Abbas and head of Hamas Politburo Khaled Meshal during this visit.
However, PA Spokesman Nabil Aburudaina Saturday said Abbas “is not to meet any Palestinian faction official residing in Damascus” during the visit.