Abbas says hopeful over summit with Sharon

ANKARA, Feb 2 (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday he was optimistic that a summit in Egypt next week with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would yield positive results, Anatolia news agency reported.
"We are hopeful," Abbas told reporters through an interpreter. "We will go to the meeting with hope."
He made the brief statement at the airport before flying out from the Turkish capital after a two-day visit.
The meeting next Tuesday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh will be the first between the most senior Israeli and Palestinian officials in more than four years.
Jordan's King Abdullah II is also expected at the summit hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

02/02/2005 14:58 GMT - AFP