Item FIFTY YEARS WAR 7/2 - Transcript of interview, 1997, with Ahmed Qurei, PLO Minister of Finance

Typescript transcript of filmed interview with Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala), economic assistant to Yasir Arafat and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Minister of Finance, describing the circumstances of a meeting with Yair Hirschfeld in London (Dec 1992) which led to the establishment of talks between the PLO and Israel, in Oslo, Norway; the form and content of those talks held in Jan-May 1993; involvement of Hassan Asfour, PLO official from Tunis, Maher al-Kurd, Palestinian economist, and Ron Pundak, Israeli academic; the role of the Norwegian hosts – Terje Rød Larsen, Director of the Norwegian Labour Union's applied social research institute FAFO, Mona Juul Norwegian diplomat (also Larsen's wife), Jan Egeland, Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs 1997-1997, and Johan Jørgen Holst, Norwegian Foreign Minister 1993-1994; involvement in the Oslo talks of Uri Savir, Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry (May 1993), and Joel Singer, Legal Advisor to the Israeli Foreign Ministry (Jun 1993); discussions concerning mutual recognition of the PLO and State of Israel; the development of the Declaration of Principals (DOP) (Oslo Agreement); discussions involving Yasir Arafat, Chairman of Executive Committee of the PLO, and Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), PLO official; signing of the DOP in Oslo, and meeting between Yasir Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, and Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister 1992-1995, (20 Aug 1993). Also comments on the talks at Taba between Arafat and Peres which culminating in the Taba Agreement (Oslo II Agreement) (Sep 1995). 57pp