A speech given by PLO Executive Committee member Mahmoud Abbas at the signing ceremony for the Declaration of Principles (Oslo I Accord) in Washington, DC, on 13 September 1993. Stating that "peaceful existence and cooperation are the only means" to realize the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, Abbas expressed hope that final status negotiations would begin within two years, including issues such as Jerusalem, refugees and settlements, and cited "economic development [as] the principle challenge facing the Palestinian people".