EU Encouraged by New Opportunities to Resolve Palestine Question

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini speaks to journalists ahead of the annual spring meeting of the donor coordination group in support of the Palestinian economy, AHLC in Brussels.

 
Brussles, 8 Sya’ban 1438/5 May 2017 (MINA) – European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini said Thursday that she is “encouraged” by the recent developments related with the question of Palestine.

“It’s no secret that the situation on the ground is not good. The gaps are wide and not easy to bridge…but there are also new opportunities,” she told a press conference ahead of the annual spring meeting of the donor coordination group in support of the Palestinian economy, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in Brussels this afternoon.

She referred to the meeting yesterday between US President Donald Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the White House.

On the document that the Palestinian movement Hamas made public a few days ago, Mogherini said “we have seen some elements that are interesting ones. We will see what comes next in terms of actual political decisions.”

The EU foreign policy chief also met US President Donald Trump’s special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt who is participating in the AHLC meeting.

Mogherini said 28 delegations including the US, UN, Russia and key Arab countries are participating in today’s meeting.
“The Middle East Peace Process remains a top priority for the EU. The two-state solution is the only viable way for a just and lasting solution,” she stressed.

On his part, Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Borge Brende who chairs the AHLC, told the joint press conference that “we hope to strengthen the economic opportunities on the West Bank and to address the dire situation in Gaza.” He warned that the budgetary support for the PA is going down and urged other donors to come forth.
“More important is that we again have a political horizon where we see the two states solution will be discussed between the two parties,” he added.

The AHLC has served since 1993 as a key policy-level coordination mechanism for financial assistance to the Palestinian people. The main purpose of the AHLC is to support preserving the vision of the two-state solution. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)