U.S. urges Sharon, Qureia to meet soon

[Gimel]

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent



The United States has called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala) to hold a meeting soon, with a view to beginning implementation of the U.S.-backed road map for Middle East peace.

U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer sent the message to the Prime Minister's Bureau in Jerusalem this week, and the American Consul in Jerusalem delivered it to Abu Ala.

Contacts over holding a meeting between the two premiers have been frozen for several weeks.

Kurtzer is to hold a routine meeting with Sharon today before leaving on a short home leave. Next week, special U.S. envoy David Satterfield will arrive in the region for a round of talks.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/383007.html

On again-off again meetings are the norm here.