President Mahmud Abbas told reporters in Malaysia that no second phase of proximity talks would be initiated until mediators had successfully set down borders for a Palestinian state.
Speaking during the second leg of his Asia tour, Abbas said Thursday that the current proximity talks focused on borders and security, key elements and confidence measures set up as first points of discussion by Palestinian and Israeli negotiations officials respectively.
"It is the aim of negotiations to lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas said, noting that he and mediators hoped the two major first-step issues would be resolved by the four-month deadline set by the Arab League.
If a first phase is successful, "then we can go to direct talks," he said.
“Obama talked about halting settlement construction," Abbas told his Malasiyan counterpart, and adding that he was set to "go to the USA to continue talks with the President Barak Obama," where he said he would press the issue within the framework of borders and security.
For his part, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhammad Najib Riziq said the proximity talks must form a solid base for peace negotiations. He described Abbas’ position as sound, adding that it would inevitably lead tot he establishment of a Palestinian state.
He added that Malaysia urged the Palestinian leadership through Abbas to continue the negotiations and also urged the Israeli government to take positive steps to reinforce Abbas.
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