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Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine
ATFP Inaugural Gala
October 11, 2006

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished audience,

Allow me to begin by extending my thanks to your organization, the American Task Force on Palestine, and to my dear friend Dr. Ziad Asali, for all of your efforts and activities to help our Palestinian people.

I also would like to extend my greetings and appreciation to our friends the American people for their continuing assistance to our people on all levels, especially in rebuilding the infrastructure and in a multitude of other vital projects that will play a role in building our independent, democratic state that will live alongside the Israeli state in security and stability.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We value the efforts that United States citizens of Palestinian and Arab heritage, the Palestinian and Arab Americans, exert in the service of the United States and the Palestinian people, especially through the development of institutions like yours that educate American public opinion thereby lending support to solving the Palestinian problem and to the establishment of a comprehensive and just peace in the region.   Your honoring tonight of Messrs. John Sununu, Jesse Aweida and Mujid Kazimi is the best illustration of that.

I take this opportunity to express my congratulations to them and to your organization, wishing them and your organization more success, progress and achievement, God willing.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

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