India will hold discussions on bilateral and regional matters with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and Jordan soon after the implementation of the disengagement plan by the Jewish state.
Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Rajeev Sikri will undertake a six-day trip from August 26 covering Palestine, Israel and Jordan.
Sikri will be meeting PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and other senior officials on August 27 to discuss issues related to bilateral ties and regional matters, including Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and certain settlements in the West Bank, the Authority's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Imeag Zuheiri told PTI.
"The talks will contribute to further strengthening of our traditional ties," he said, thanking India for extending a generous aid package of $15 million to the PA.
"The discussions are also likely to include the possible ways of utilising the aid promised by India during the visit of PA chairman to Delhi in May," he added.
The secretary will be meeting Israeli officials the following day for annual foreign office consultations.
"It is a routine political dialogue to review the whole gamut of issues invloving our bilateral ties. We will discuss about the progress made on various agreements between the two countries and the acievements made during the past one year," Director of Asia and Pacific at the foreign ministry Giora Bacher, said.
