US Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrived in Ramallah in the West Bank Saturday for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian officials said they expect Mitchell to ask Abbas to move from the current indirect talks with Israel to direct negotiations, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". However, Abbas and other Palestinian officials have said the resumption of direct talks, suspended since December 2008, will not start without progress in the indirect talks spearheaded by Mitchell on borders and security issues. Abbas expects Mitchell to explain to him what progress, if any, has been made in the indirect or proximity talks before embarking on direct negotiations, according to Palestinian officials. Mitchell met Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday and is also expected to meet European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who arrives in the region Saturday for meetings with Palestinian and Israeli officials.
