Arafat expresses commitment to cease-fire

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Saturday that the Palestinians are "committed to fulfilling all the agreements related to a cease-fire."

"And we hope that the other side will make the same commitments," Arafat said at a meeting in Ramallah, on the West Bank.

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The pair discussed political developments in the region and the truce between the Israelis and the Palestinians brokered by U.S. CIA head George Tenet.

Annan's aim is to cement a cease-fire as a first step in the tortuous process of resuming negotiations about a wider peace deal. At a news conference after their meeting, Arafat and Annan stressed the importance of both sides committing to all the agreements related to the cease-fire. Annan said it was clear that this meant an end to further settlement activity by the Israelis.

Annan urged Palestinians and Israelis to take advantage of the current diplomatic situation, saying the blueprint for peace outlined in the Mitchell Report should continue to be the basis for getting both sides to the negotiating table.

"It's important that we do everything to make sure that the cease-fire holds -- we do everything to implement it and move forward very quickly with the implementation of all aspects of the Mitchell Report. "I think we have an opportunity, but a brief one, a fleeting opportunity to resolve this issue and we should seize the moment. If we don't seize it, it may move away from us," Annan said.

Annan is currently in Jerusalem meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The cease-fire has survived largely intact three days, but there are still accusations on both sides that it is not being upheld.

Israel insists that Palestinians are not doing enough to end acts of violence on the ground, charging that Arafat has yet to take action against known militants who are planning attacks against Israel.

Palestinians charge that Israel is not meeting its commitments to lift restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians.

Security chiefs from both sides met Saturday and were scheduled to meet again Sunday to review the situation and prepare a timetable for the full implementation of obligations regarding the cease-fire.