CAIRO, January 30, 2005 (IPC)--President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that the Palestinian factions have agreed on a ´truce´, a matter that needs a positive response from the ´other party´ (Israel).

President Abbas, who was speaking in an interview with the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat London-based Arab Daily, was quoted as saying " we had no differences with the factions, so dialogue is keeping on as smoothly and necessarily as possible".

Mr. President asserted that the conditions set forth by the factions to accept a ceasefire with Israel were not that hard, but there have been demands from their part and that the Palestinians are awaiting a positive reaction from the other party (Israel).

As for his upcoming meeting with Israeli PM, Ariel Sharon, President Abbas confirmed that the February 8 meeting´s agenda will be focused on discussing ways to carry out further moves".

The President denied the meeting is intended to declare an independent Palestinian state, saying such a state could be launched by the end of final Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, based on the road map peace blueprint, which includes ´many stages´.

On the other hand, Palestinian Foreign Minister, Nabil Sha´ath, confirmed from Damascus that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is due to reach a deal with Palestinain factions in Cairo, regarding the ceasefire (truce) with Israel.

President Mahmoud Abbas is in Cairo within his first regional and international trip, after being elected in January 9, 2005 as president of the PNA, in succession of late President, Yasser Arafat, who died in November 2004. (© Copyright 2001-2004 IPC 01/30/05)