25/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ashton-Abbas meeting. After meeting the president of the European Council on 23 October, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, met High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on 24 October. Ashton stressed the EU's full support for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that are under way “which should lead to a two-state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition”, said Ashton's spokesperson. Ashton also reaffirmed the EU's “continued support” for the Palestinian state-building efforts and reiterated the call for intra-Palestinian reconciliation - “an important element for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two-state solution”, she said. Ashton and Abbas also discussed developments in the region, especially the situation in Syria. (CG/transl.fl)