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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a summit meeting with Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his support for the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority centered on President Abbas with a view to realizing peace in the Middle East, and requested that steady progress be achieved in the peace process and the deterrence of terrorism. After the meeting, the two leaders held a joint press conference. In his statement, Prime Minister Koizumi highly appreciated President Abbas' resolve to stabilize the security situation and carry out political reform. Prime Minister Koizumi also said, "I expressed our intention to extend approximately 100 million US dollars as assistance to Palestine. Regarding cooperation for Palestine's development, I would like to hold a ministerial-level conference between Japan and Palestine in Tokyo during this fiscal year." President Abbas expressed his gratitude for the Government of Japan's efforts toward peace in Israel and Palestine and said, "In addition to these efforts, I would like Japan to exert its political influence. Japan has a balanced relationship with the countries in the Middle East, so I believe it would be able to do this." Related link:Joint Press Conference Following the Japan-Palestine Summit Meeting