Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Saturday with military council head Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi in Cairo, said Barakat al-Farra, the Palestinian ambassador in Cairo, on Wednesday,
In a statement to reporters, Farra said that Abbas will begin an official two-day visit to Egypt on Friday to discuss the latest developments in the region, especially those concerning Palestinian affairs, to coordinate efforts with Egypt.
Farra added that during the discussions, the two will address all issues of concern to Palestine and Egypt, including the latest developments following Abbas’ request to the United Nations General Assembly for Palestinian statehood.
He said the meeting will be an opportunity to thank Egypt for its continuing efforts to support the Palestinian cause and its role in the prisoner swap deal with Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and its keenness to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.
Farra praised the good relations and high level of coordination between the Palestinian leadership and Egypt, as well as help offered by Egypt to Gaza Strip residents.
Khaled Meshaal, president of the Hamas political bureau, returned to Damascus on Wednesday following a three-day visit to Cairo.
Meshaal was accompanied by a nine-person delegation, including the bureau's vice president, Mousa Abu Marzouq.
Meshaal arrived in Cairo on Monday on a private Qatari plane to follow up on the implementation of the first phase of the prisoner swap deal, in which Shalit was released in exchange for the release of 1027 Palestinian prisoners.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
