Tunis — President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali conferred on Thursday with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas (Abou Mazen) who arrived in Tunis for a two-day work and friendship visit following his participation in the Annapolis peace conference on the Middle East.

President Abbas said he was honored to have met with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, noting that the meeting hinged on the talks which took place before and after the Annapolis Conference, as well as on the negotiations which will begin soon.

The Palestinian President, expressed his satisfaction for Tunisia 's constant and unflinching support to the Palestinian people saying: "Tunisia has always supported Palestine. We are proud and honored of this position".

"I will never forget that it is from Tunisia that we have regained our motherland. I cherish the hope that my visit today to Tunisia will be of good omen and that we will manage to set up an independent Palestinian State in 2008" .

President Mahmoud Abbas also said that his talks with President Ben Ali had focused on bilateral issues, as well as the excellent brotherly relations between both nations, which are witnessing a very positive evolution.