Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, April 27, SPA -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said after talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh he told US President George W Bush Jewish settlements should be halted and the 1967 border would have to be the basis of any agreement with Israel. Speaking after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Abbas said there were serious efforts by all sides in the peace process to reach a Palestinian-Israeli agreement before the end of 2008. "We have to be hopeful. But we don't know whether we will reach an agreement or not," Abbas said at a press conference. "I told Bush that the continuing settlements do not give hope toanyone," the Palestinian leader said about his talks with Bush inWashington last week. "We asked Bush to be very clear about the fact that any deal withIsrael should be on the basis of the border of the pre-1967 war,"Abbas was quoted as saying by DPA. Abbas is due to meet Bush again on May 17 in Sharm el-Sheikh. The US president is scheduled to start a regional tour in mid-May.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/550199