Mahmoud Abbas, head of Palestinian Authority, in Romania for two days

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the National Palestinian Authority, is visiting Romania today and tomorrow (July 12, 13), invited by the Romanian president Traian Basescu. Abbas will meet the Romanian president, prime minister Emil Boc and the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberta Anastase. Mahmoud Abbas will be officially welcomed today (Monday, July 12) at 15,30 hours at the Cotroceni Palace. An official dinner will be held to celebrate his arrival. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is an autonomous national entity comprising the territories of Gaza (formerly under Egyptian sovereignty) and West Bank (formerly under Jordan sovereignty). Mahmoud Abbas has been its president since 2005. He is a founder member, with Yasser Arafat, of Palestinian political faction Fatah. Abbas holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Law from the University of Damascus and a PhD in History from the Oriental College in Moscow. RS