Dominican Republic, Palestinians To Establish Ties
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AFP)--Dominican Republic President Leonel
Fernandez and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement
Tuesday to establish diplomatic ties, the leaders said in a joint statement
released by Fernandez's office.
Fernandez and Abbas met at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh
ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, summit that begins Wednesday, the
statement read.
The two leaders said the gesture would be "the step prior to the construction
of friendship and cooperation," and that they would name diplomatic
representatives before the end of the year.
Fernandez said his Caribbean nation, from its "modest position," will do what
it can to contribute to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
Before traveling to Egypt, Fernandez made an official visit to Israel, where
he met with top leaders including President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister
Avigdor Lieberman, as well as business leaders.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-14-092343ET
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