ABBAS TO MEET ASHTON, REQUEST A UNIFIED EU POSITION

RAMALLAH (NNN-MA’AN) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to meet EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Cairo on Monday to request a united European position on the Palestinian UN bid, senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath said.

Shaath made the announcement during a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis in Athens Sunday.

He is currently on a tour of Europe and is due to visit Romania, Belgium, Turkey and Britain.

The meeting with the Greek minister of foreign affairs was "positive" in terms of bilateral relations, Shaath said, adding that Greece had always been supportive of the Palestinian people and their cause.

Europe stands divided on the Palestinian UN bid, with the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany opposed but Spain pledging to vote in favour, on or around Sept 20, when world leaders gather in New York for the 66th session of the General Assembly.-- NNN-MA'AN