Abbas: Canada may absorb Palestinian refugees

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that Canada may play a role in relocating Palestinian refugees if the issue is solved with Israel. "Canada is one of the countries that is engaged in the issue of Palestinian refugees. It may play a role in the future when the issue of the refugees is solved," said Abbas at a joint press conference in Ramallah with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Media reports recently said Canada would absorb Palestinian refugees as part of a future peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. However, Harper told reporters that his country was not officially asked to relocate any Palestinians refugees, but Canada was ready to play a role if the Palestinians and the Israelis reached a deal on this issue. The returning of Palestinian refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 war between the Arabs and Israel is one of thorniest issues in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Abbas said he hoped the U.S.-sponsored peace talks would succeed and lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. He has also stressed that the Palestinians would not accept any Israeli presence in the future Palestinian state. Last July, the United States succeeded in convincing the Israelis and the Palestinians to hold direct peace talks for the first time in three years. The talks are set to run nine months before reaching an expected agreement. Despite the grave differences between the two sides, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to present a framework document at the end of January. Meanwhile, Harper was accompanied by a business delegation that will meet with Palestinian businessmen to discuss cooperation and investment. Canada has promised more than 60 million U.S. dollars in support for the Palestinian private sector, while Harper pledges more support in the future. "In the long term, we also believe that stability and ever-lasting peace will be built on economic prosperity." Harper's visit to the Middle East will include a visit to Israel and Jordan. He will address the Israeli parliament later Monday. Canada was one of nine states that voted against the Palestinians' bid to upgrade their status at the UN to that of a non-member observer state in 2012.