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Foreign Minister Pledges Spain's, EU Support for Middle East Peace Effort

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

Text of report by Palestinian news agency Wafa website

Gaza, 6 September: Prime Minister Ahmad Quray met Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos at the Prime Ministry offices in Gaza City today.

The two sides exchanged views on issues pertaining to the unilateral Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Palestinian preparations for the stage following the implementation of the plan, the situation in the West Bank, Jerusalem, settlements, the wall, economic conditions and the development programme in the Palestinian territories.

The prime minister welcomed the visiting minister and highly valued his continued efforts to support Palestine and the peace process.

At a joint news conference following the meeting, the prime minister said that there were many unresolved issues between the Palestinian and Israeli sides despite the existence of contacts and coordination between them and with international parties, as well as the Quartet [including the USA, UN, EU and Russia] representative over the past four months. He noted that some important issues which were still under discussion were proposed during these contacts.

Quray added that the most important unresolved issue was that of crossings, especially the Rafah crossing in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and the freedom of movement of individuals and goods to and from the Strip. He added that some proposals had been made but were more complex than practical. The prime minister said that continued international efforts were being made in this regard, especially by sisterly Egypt and several friends. He pointed out that Moratinos would discuss these issues with the Israeli side tomorrow, not to mention the efforts made by Quartet representative James Wolfensohn.

Quray voiced his hope that this issue would be resolved in the coming days. He said that if Israel left suddenly then the [Palestinian] National Authority would take over its responsibility quickly and would do it well. We will continue the march, he said.

He added that other issues remained unresolved, including the airport, other crossings and the situation in the Governorate of Jenin, which we demand be reclassified as Area A if the withdrawal plan is to put the peace process back on track, but we have not received an answer yet.

For his part, Foreign Minister Moratinos thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and expressed his pleasure to be in Palestine and to see Gaza liberated. He said: "There are some unresolved issues that we are working on resolving in the near future, especially with regard to the crossings and some borders."

He added that he came to the [Palestinian] National Authority territories in the past in conditions which were tougher than presently, but that he was happy to come back today and see the preparations undertaken by the [Palestinian] National Authority.

He said: "I am very happy to come and witness the beginnings of an independent state and God willing, there will be a free and independent state that enjoys sovereignty and distinguished ties with the European Union."

Moratinos said that he was personally tasked by the Spanish government to be the first European representative to take the initiative to support the Palestinian people, adding that his country supports the efforts of the Palestinian and Israeli sides to achieve progress in the peace process at this stage.

Moratinos stressed the importance of the Israeli-Palestinian coordination in the withdrawal process for fear that matters would become complicated. He said he would discuss this issue with the Israeli side and Wolfensohn tomorrow.

He added that he would always be ready, whether through the European Union or in his personal capacity as Spain's representative, to support the people and the [Palestinian] National Authority, as well as to implement the road map and help the people get back on their feet and move forward in building the economy and the Palestinian civil society.

Moratinos noted the importance of the forthcoming stage, saying it was a new stage that would witness Euro-Middle Eastern meetings and meetings in Washington with the purpose of supporting efforts for peace in the Middle East.

Moratinos renewed his government's affirmation and pledge to build a national Palestinian economy and back infrastructure measures.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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