Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has phoned newly elected President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him on his election, an official statement said. Musharraf conveyed warm felicitations to him on behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan. He said that Abbas's election was testimony to the Palestinian people's trust and confidence in his leadership as well as his contribution to the Palestinian cause. Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's support to the Palestinian cause and the creation of the sovereign and independent Palestinian State. He said that in the recent past he had urged President Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder to coordinate international efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. The newly elected Palestinian president accepted Musharraf's invitation to visit Pakistan. Abbas thanked Musharraf for his call and expressed gratitude to him and people of Pakistan for their consistent, forthright and principled stand on Palestine.
