Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat offered on Sunday to meet U.S. President George W. Bush "anytime, anywhere" to promote Middle East peace despite Bush's call for his removal from power.
Arafat also referred to Bush's recent Middle East policy address, which effectively linked a future Palestinian state to Arafat's ouster, as "important.".
"I would like to meet President Bush anytime at a place of his choice so we can work towards comprehensive peace," Arafat speaking by satellite link, told an audience of businessmen and political leaders in the Swiss Crans Montana mountain resort.
He noted Bush was "the first U.S. president to propose an independent Palestinian state."
"It is absolutely impossible. None of my ministers can come and visit me and hold any meetings. It is impossible to achieve reform in such a situation," Arafat said through an interpreter.
Arafat, who again condemned the suicide bombings, said that he was ready to go "anywhere in the world" to renew peace talks, but the Israeli government was not interested in a just solution to the conflict. "Of course we are against terrorism, we are making every effort to end terrorist acts, particularly against Israel," he said in reply to a question. (Albawaba.com)
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