Visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Sunday that Palestinian presidential elections next month could pave the way for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Fischer spoke after meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. Palestinian elections are set for Jan. 9. Voters will elect a Palestinian Authority president to replace Yasser Arafat who died last month. Fischer met Sunday with Qureia and interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. "I think the present situation with the coming election is a great opportunity, if there is responsible behavior by all parties on the ground and by the international community, to move toward a resumption of the peace talks which will lead to two states living peacefully side by side," Fischer said. Palestinian officials planned to ask Fischer for help in rehabilitating the ravaged Palestinian economy and their security forces. Later Sunday, Fischer will meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
