Ramallah, Nov 29: Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei reaffirmed today that he was ready to meet with his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon, but only on the condition he could expect it to be fruitful. "As I have said before I would come to this meeting. But it would have to be well prepared to have positive results," Qorei told reporters following a cabinet meeting in Ramallah.

"We want to have serious negotiations and not just a meeting for the sake of it," he said.

Qorei said that his chief of staff Hassan Abu Libdeh and chief negotiator Saeb Erakat would be meeting Sharon's own top adviser Dov Weisglass tomorrow to prepare the ground for a meeting.

The Palestinian Prime Minister also revealed that talks in Egypt between Palestinian factions over a cease-fire with Israel would be starting on Monday. Qorei said that he would not be taking part initially "but could attend the final session."

Bureau Report