Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is still a \"serious partner\" for peace despite his successful bid for UN non-state membership, Israeli President Shimon Peres told AFP in an exclusive interview on Thursday. \"I tried to influence him not to do it right now. I told him: look it\'s not the proper time to do it,\" Peres said. \"But I still believe he\'s a serious partner and a serious man and I have respect for him.\"