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Javier SOLANA,
EU High Representative for the CFSP,
pleased with Rafah border crossing management, appeals
to Palestinian militant groups to renounce violence
Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy, paid a full-day visit to
Gaza today, Sunday 18 December, taking in Erez, Gaza
City and the Egyptian border at Rafah. HR Solana toured
the Rafah border terminal installations and met the
European members of the European border assistance
mission.
He also visited the Palestinian police headquarters in
Gaza. He met members of the European Union Coordinating
Office for Palestinian Police Support (COPPS), which is
working on a three-year plan for the development and
transformation of the Palestinian police forces.
HR Solana met the Palestinian President, Mahmoud ABBAS,
as well as the former Minister for Civilian Affairs,
Mohamed DAHLAN, now in charge of supervising the Rafah
crossing.
Mr Solana discussed cooperation between the Palestinian
Authority (PA) and the EU, in particular in relation to
the Rafah monitoring mission and police assistance. He
also discussed the latest developments in the
Palestinian Territories and preparations for the
forthcoming elections to the Legislative Council. HR
Solana thanked his Palestinian interlocutors for the
good cooperation established with the EU and encouraged
them to continue on the path of reform.
The following is a summary of HR Solana's remarks to the
press at the Rafah terminal:
“I am very pleased to be here. I had the opportunity of
touring the terminal. I am impressed by the work that is
being done by the Palestinian border monitors and the EU
monitors. I want to commend the Palestinian Authority,
in particular Minister Mohamed Dahlan, for the excellent
organization of the terminal. Since it opened on 26
November, more than 20 000 people have been able to
cross the border between Gaza and Egypt. That is now
more than 1 000 a day in both directions. This is an
important achievement, after the disengagement of Israel
from Gaza. It means a clear improvement in the quality
of life for the Palestinians. I am pleased to see that
the Europeans are contributing to this important step.
Earlier, I visited the headquarters of the Palestinian
police in Gaza City. There the EU police advisers are
working to help develop the necessary knowledge,
experience and capacity to progressively build modern
and efficient Palestinian security structures. The EU
police advisory mission will expand in January in terms
of both personnel and scope.
The presence on the ground of the EU in Gaza and overall
in the PA Territories is taking place at a crucial and
dynamic moment, just as the Palestinians are preparing
to vote on 25 January and elect a new Legislative
Council. Precisely at this complex moment let me confirm
the wholesale commitment of the EU to the peace process
and the implementation of the road map. At this critical
juncture, let me make an appeal for unity and
responsibility.
One last word of gratitude to the EU personnel deployed
here in the EU BAM mission and EU-POL COPPS and of
praise for the work done”.
In response to several questions regarding the role of
Hamas before and after the elections, HR Solana said:
“The decision as to who is entitled to participate in
Palestinian elections is entirely a Palestinian one,
according to the laws of the Palestinian Authority. I do
not want to interfere. The EU does not oppose the
participation of Hamas or any other organization in the
elections. The right to participate has been decided by
the Palestinian Authority.
Nevertheless, as the EU leaders said when they met in
Brussels on Friday, all Palestinian factions, including
Hamas, should renounce violence. They should recognize
the right of Israel to exist and they should disarm. It
is clear that those who want to be part of the political
process should not engage in armed activities. There is
a total contradiction between violent actions and
building a democratic state.
One cannot exclude that the Europeans think twice about
their engagement with the Palestinian Authority and
about committing their taxpayers' money if members of
the elected Palestinian leadership do not renounce
violence and do not recognize Israel.” |
