12-10-05,11:27am
RAMALLAH, Palestine, November 12, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - President Mahmoud Abbas renewed his pledge to continue walking the path of the late President Yasser Arafat towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
President Abbas added, in a speech during the special ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary for the passing of President Arafat, that he will remain adamant to pursuing the international acknowledgement of the Palestinian people's right to Jerusalem as its national capital, according to the international legitimacy resolutions.
Referring to the life of the late President, Abbas maintained that Arafat's life has been unique in its sacrifices, cornerstones and dedication to the cause of the Palestinian people, added to his legendary ability to rise from the ashes holding the sign of victory and crossing the way past defeat and to triumph.
He further noted that for a democratic system to be built properly, it should be based on integrity, transparency, accountability and an independent legal system.
'We are also determined to combat all forms of administrative, financial, political and security corruption, and no obstacles would deter us from this task - whether those of the Israeli occupation and its consequences or those of the complex internal situation.'
On his part, Foreign Minister Dr. Nasser Al Kidwa, stressed in a speech before President Arafat's family, the necessity of not closing the death case of President Arafat until the whole truth is reached, considering it a right and a duty for the Palestinian people.
'The Israeli government has made many stands and gave several remarks regarding the elimination of Arafat, and we must remember that Israeli imposed a long siege and harsh living standards enough to be held responsible for what happened to our president and departing leader,' Dr. Al Kidwa asserted.
The minister demanded that Palestinians make use of Arafat's legacy to the advantage of the general national stream, and that current policies would be an extension of his own, pointing out that the current difficult political situations that threaten the national project requires political leaders to draw from the late president's heritage and maintain the constants he had cemented.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Democratic Union (FEDA), Saleh Raafat, also called to adhere to the Cairo understandings and empower PLO's institutions, as well as hold the legislative elections on time.
Saleh also called, during a speech on Arafat's first anniversary, to name the most prominent plazas, schools and establishments after him, in order to remember his sacrifices to unify the Palestinian people behind one cause.
'[President] Arafat has remained committed to the rights of our people as recognized by the international legitimacy, and these are the minimum inalienable rights, including East Jerusalem and the refugees' right to return,' Saleh stated.
He mentioned that the best tribute to the late President's legacy would be to adopt dialogue as a sole way to resolve internal disputes, and firmly adhere to the national standpoints and insist on ending the Israeli settlement activities and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the lands occupied by Israel on June 4, 1967.
