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Summary of remarks by Javier
SOLANA,
EU High Representative for the CFSP,
and Mahmoud ABBAS, President of the Palestinian
Authority,
at a joint press briefing
Brussels, 23 February 2007
The following is an edited summary of remarks to the
press by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and Mahmoud
ABBAS, President of the Palestinian Authority, following
their meeting in Brussels today.
HR Solana: "It is a great pleasure for me to receive
President Abbas, not only in his quality as the
President of the Palestinian people, but also as a very
good friend for many years.
We are very happy that you are here at a very crucial
moment, after the Quartet meeting, two days ago. I am
very glad that we had the possibility to discuss the
evolution of the decisions taken in the Quartet and the
evolution of the formation of the government of national
unity. And not only that, but also to see how we can put
into movement what the President has called a political
horizon, for the realization of the two-state solution.
That is what we want to do and we want to do it rapidly.
Mahmoud Abbas is a good person, someone honest, someone
who works hard for his people and who has all the
friendship from the peoples and the countries and the
leaders of the European Union. So to have him here is a
great pleasure and I want to tell him that he will have
the support of the European Union as he has had in the
last period of time.
The European Union is not boycotting the Palestinian
people. We said many times that we would never let down
the Palestinian people and we have not done it. In the
year 2006 we have spent on the Palestinian people more
than in the year 2005. We have been paying allowances
for over 150 000 families every month, that amounts to
over 1 million people, that is to say 30 % of the
Palestinian population. And we will continue to do that
in the year 2007, even more if possible.
So we want the engagement between the European Union and
the Palestinian people to be maintained and to be
increased. And I hope very much that, with the
leadership of President Abbas, the situation will evolve
in a positive direction and that the dream of so many
people in Palestine and many other places in the world,
in particular in Europe, to see the realization of two
states will come true. This is what the people of
Palestine deserve and that we want President Abbas to
lead. And for that he will have all the support of the
European people.
President Abbas welcome! The floor is yours."
President Abbas (translated from Arabic): "I would like
to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to our dear
friend Javier Solana for his relentless efforts and
commitment to help us and to help the cause of peace in
his capacity in the European Union. We appreciate all
the assistance that has been given to us by our friend
Javier Solana.
Year after year, we have improved our relations with Mr
Solana and it is obvious that his efforts are continuing
in the direction of easing and alleviating the suffering
of the Palestinian people and also to help the
Palestinian people to achieve their political
aspirations.
It is crucial for me, after the Mecca agreement, amid
the formation of the national unity government and after
the political developments happening recently to be here
and to discuss all these issues with my friend Javier
Solana.
I have also discussed with Mr Solana today the prospect
for the political solution based on the two-state
solution: a Palestinian State living side by side in
peace with the State of Israel.
What I do here is important, what we do with the
Europeans is important, what we do worldwide is
important, but the most important thing is to give
Palestinians and Israelis the hope – and to revive hope
in their minds – that peace and stability is possible.
When we speak about our political prospects and about a
political solution, allow me to reiterate our commitment
to the principles that I will hold all along the way to
achieve peace with Israel. We remain committed to the
two-state solution, recognition of Israel, renouncing
violence and terror, and reiterating our commitment to
agreements signed and also to the Arab Peace Plan of
2002.
We did not change our positions, we did not change our
principles, and that applies also to the Roadmap which
is the term of reference of the Peace Process. "
Question: "Mr. Solana, you have said that the EU is not
boycotting the Palestinian people. But is the EU
boycotting the new national unity government and did you
give any indication to President Abbas if and when the
EU could start direct financial aid to the Palestinian
Authority?"
HR Solana: "Let me say very clearly that we cannot
boycott something that does not exist. The government
has not been formed yet. Therefore, we wait – as the
President does know very well – until the government of
national unity is completely formed. The President has
explained very clearly the three objectives that we want
to obtain. These three objectives that he has mentioned,
as you know, are the three objectives, the three points
that we defend. Therefore we are absolutely on the same
wavelength and we work for the same objectives. I am
very happy to see that it is the President himself who
mentioned the three elements that the new government
should comply with."
Question (translated from French): "Mr Solana it seems
that there is a slight change in the position of the
Quartet towards the Palestinian Authority. Could such a
change lead to a political and economic opening? "
HR Solana: "We have two possibilities: that the
government of national unity will be part of the
solution or that the government of national unity will
be part of the problem. I hope very much from the bottom
of my heart that this government will be part of the
solution. For that, you know what the government has to
have in sight. The President has expressed that very
clearly. But as you can imagine, we very much welcome
the idea of a unity government, that has created
stability among the Palestinians, which is very
important, very important. And we hope also that it will
contribute to the motion towards the political horizon
that the President has mentioned and that we share."
Question (translated from Arabic): "Will the recognition
and the principles of the agreement signed be a problem
between Fatah and Hammas? "
President Abbas' answer (as summed up by the
interpreter): "The President answered by giving the
journalist a copy of the letter of designation of Prime
Ministrer Haniyeh in which he asks him to honour and
respect the agreements signed, the international
legality and the Arab legality." |
