Azerbaijan , Baku, Sept. 26 / Trend A. Isgandarov/
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Monday received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel in which she enquired about the Palestinian Authority's understanding of the Quartet statement, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Abbas affirmed that the Palestinian Authority will discuss the Quartet statement, pointing out that the PA's understanding of the statement includes freezing settlement activities and establishing a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.
The proposal by the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - calls for relaunching talks within one month, discussing the issues of borders and security first.
It sets the end of 2012 as a deadline for an agreement.
He spoke after Merkel apparently explained to Abbas that the proposal makes indirect references to controversial Israeli settlements in territory claimed by Palestinians and to the pre-1967 lines - from before Israel's capture of the West Bank from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
Palestinian officials had initially reacted critically because the Quartet statement of Friday failed to directly refer to the 1967 lines or the settlements.
While it backs the Palestinian demand for a clear deadline, the proposal backs Israel's position that the negotiations should be held without preconditions.
It does call on the sides to avoid "provocative actions."
It also reiterates support for the vision of US President Barack Obama, who in May called for negotiations based on the 1967 lines, with agreed land swaps.
Abbas said the Palestinian response would come after a meeting for the Palestinian leadership.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday that Abbas would convene the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee on Wednesday to discuss the Quartet proposal according to dpa.