SPANISH FM TO VISIT GAZA ON TUESDAY

Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo. (Photo: PIC)

Madrid, 21 Rabiul Awwal 1436/12 January 2015 (MINA) – Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo is expected to visit the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, to check on the Strip’s conditions, during his tour that will also take him to Jordan, Israel and the West Bank.

The spokesman of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Adnan Abu Hasnah told the Anadolu Agency that the Spanish Foreign Minister will seek, during his visit to Gaza, to have an idea about the conditions of the territory and the needs of the Gazan people.

He will also seek to know the needs of the people affected by the latest Israeli offensive on Gaza, Abu Hasna added, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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The Spanish Foreign Minister started a Middle East tour on Saturday to get firsthand information on the current conditions in the region.

This coincides with granting Spain a non-permanent member status at the United Nations Security Council, according to a statement from the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

Margallo’s tour in the region follows a visit he made to Egypt two weeks ago.

The Minister is expected to start his tour with Jordan where he will meet with the Jordanian King Abdullah II, the Jordanian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Naser Joudeh, Defense Minister Abdullah al-Nusur and a number of Spanish businessmen working in the Hashemite Kingdom.

This tour followed the call made, on November 18, by the Spanish parliament for recognizing Palestine as a state.

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The Spanish Minister will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his stay in the Jordanian Capital Amman a few hours prior to his travel to the Palestinian territories.

After meeting with President Abbas, Margallo will head on Tuesday to Gaza Strip where he will meet with UNRWA’s Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl.

Margallo will conclude his tour by a visit to Israel. He will hold a series of meetings with Israeli officials. (T/P011/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)