Abbas aide: No progress on joint declaration of principles

By JPOST.COM STAFF
An aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that many issues remained unresolved in the preparation for the Annapolis conference. "We have not reached any understandings on the core issues and have not been able to formulate a joint declaration of principles," Nabil Abu Rudaineh told reporters in Ankara, as Abbas and President Shimon Peres met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Rudaineh said that the joint statement required a brave decision on Israel's part, which was being held up due to political issues between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.