Abbas, Berlusconi discuss Palestinian statehood

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met last night with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral ties as well as latest developments in Middle East and the Mediterranean region. The two sides discussed as well means of activating the Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process and the declaration of a Palestinian statehood, the Italian Cabinet said in a statement after the talks held in Rome. Abbas met earlier on Friday with Pope Benedict XVI, where particular stress was laid on the urgent need to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.