WASHINGTON - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called for a "clear" US commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state at the start of his first official visit to the United States since his election in January.
"As we have stated several times in the past, we want from the United States a clear political position for the implementation of the roadmap, as well as economic support," the Palestinian Authority president said shortly after his arrival in Washington late Tuesday.
"We hope to get this," added Abbas, who is expected to meet with President George W. Bush at the White House on Thursday.
Ahead of his meeting with Bush, Abbas will hold talks Wednesday with Congress leaders and later with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. On Thursday morning Abbas will meet leaders of the Jewish-American community.
The Middle East peace roadmap, which has been largely deadlocked since its launch two years ago, is a phased plan that aims to end nearly five years of violence in the region by creating an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
It was brokered by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.
On economic matters, Abbas is expected to ask for annual US economic aid to the Palestinians to be channelled directly to the Palestinian Authority, rather than to non-governmental organizations, members of his delegation said.
The United States has so far disbursed only a small portion of the 350 million dollars (280 million euros) it earmarked this year for the Palestinian Authority, fearing the money would be siphoned off by corrupt officials.
Abbas intends to prove his commitment to fight corruption to convince the White House to release the rest of its aid, according to his entourage.
The Palestinian leader is joined in Washington by his prime minister Ahmad Qorei, foreign minister Nasser Al-Qidwa and finance minister Salam Fayyad.
While Abbas` predecessor Yasser Arafat was persona non grata with the Bush administration for his alleged links to extremists, the new Palestinian leader will be welcomed by a US president who has repeatedly praised him for trying to put an end to violence in the region.
"We need answers to many questions, and we expect to get positive answers," Abbas said in Ramallah before leaving for Washington.
The Palestinians would like the United States to insist that Israel`s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this year be carried out in line with the roadmap -- not instead of it -- despite Israeli reluctance.
Concerned about increased US pressure on Israel following Abbas` visit, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, also visiting Washington, pledged Tuesday to release 400 Palestinian prisoners to "help" Abbas in his White House visit.
"When I return to Israel we will release 400 more prisoners," Sharon told an audience of 5,000 people at the annual meeting of the influential American Israeli Public Affairs Committee.
Israel, said Sharon, would try "to help Chairman Abbas as much as we can as long as we do not risk our own security."
The Palestinians played down Sharon`s announcement, with planning minister Ghassan Al-Khatib dismissing it as "propaganda", arguing that the two sides had initially agreed for the prisoners to be released in February.
05/25/2005 13:19 GMT