November 16, 2003	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1424

RAMALLAH, Nov 15: Palestinian officials are in Washington for talks with senior US officials to see if they can boost the chances of the so-called Geneva Initiative peace plan, officials said on Saturday.

Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Qassis and his adviser, Samih al Abed, on Friday discussed the unofficial peace plan with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Richard Burns, the US envoy for the Middle East, they said.

“They had very positive meetings. They discussed the Geneva Initiative, mainly how it can boost the Israeli-Palestinian peace coalition and put an end to violence and occupation,” said Ahmad Daud of the Palestine Media Center.

Mr Qassis was one of three members of the Palestinian cabinet to take part in the drafting of the Geneva Initiative with leading members of the Israeli left.

Short of officially endorsing the plan — which deals with every key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Washington has welcomed the peace effort and sent messages of encouragement to its initiators.—AFP