Ramallah

     President Mahmoud Abbas received today in Ramallah, a member of the American Senate, Senator Joseph Lieberman. Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, Saeb Erikat described the meeting as positive, pointing out that the meeting touched on the efforts with the Israeli side to revive the peace process and implement President Bush's vision of establishing two states. President Abbas demanded the American Congress' assistance in securing the release of Palestinian funds withheld by the Israeli side, pointing out that the Minister of Finance. Salam Fayyad, participated in the meeting and briefed about the situation in the Palestinian territories because of the embargo and restrictions on bank transfers to the Palestinian National Authority, media reported.(21,35)