[20/March/2010]

PARIS, March 20 (Saba) -- US Special Envoy to the Mideast, George Mitchell, said on Saturday that he will go tomorrow to the Mideast region to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming days, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Speaking after talks with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Mitchell indicated in comments that he would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, before going to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the following day.
Kouchner met Mitchell to discuss the latest developments in the region and the current climate following Israels decision to continue building illegal settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The talks addressed Fridays important meeting of the Quartet in Moscow, when the international group called on Israel to fully halt settlement building and roll-back illegal construction in occupied Palestinian territories.

The two men also discussed last weeks visit to the region by European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton.

Informed sources indicated earlier to KUNA that Mitchell met earlier with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani to discuss, particularly, the Palestinian situation and the Hamas issue.

Saba