Dominican Republic, Palestinians To Establish Ties



SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AFP)--Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement Tuesday to establish diplomatic ties, the leaders said in a joint statement released by Fernandez's office.

Fernandez and Abbas met at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, summit that begins Wednesday, the statement read.

The two leaders said the gesture would be "the step prior to the construction of friendship and cooperation," and that they would name diplomatic representatives before the end of the year.

Fernandez said his Caribbean nation, from its "modest position," will do what it can to contribute to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Before traveling to Egypt, Fernandez made an official visit to Israel, where he met with top leaders including President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, as well as business leaders.


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