Brussels, 05/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo on 4 May between the Fatah under Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamic Hamas under Khamed Meshal “can be an opportunity” for the Middle East peace process, the spokesperson for Catherine Ashton said on Thursday 5 May when speaking to the press in Brussels. She nonetheless underlined the fact that the services of High Representative Ashton had not yet completed their scrutiny of the text of the agreement which, she said, is still not fully available. The fact that there is a process of reconciliation between the two hitherto enemy factions in Palestine is, in itself, a good thing that the EU can but welcome, she said. Whatever the result of examining the agreement strictly speaking, the future Palestinian national unity government resulting from that agreement will be judged on its action, the spokesperson explained. At this level, EU requirements are very clear: - the Palestinian government must subscribe to the principle of non violence and support a negotiated and peaceful solution to reach the “two-state solution” allowing a future Palestinian state and Israel to live side by side in peace and security, she said. “We share the view expressed yesterday at the signing ceremony that the diplomatic path is the best way to achieve the two-state solution”, the spokesperson added. The EU's position towards Palestinian reconciliation will also be one of the key issues covered at the next Foreign Affairs Council to meet in Brussels on 23 May under the chairmanship of Catherine Ashton. One of trickiest issues facing foreign ministers will be that of knowing how the EU may, in future, work with a transitional Palestinian government jointly formed by Fatah and Hamas (pending the presidential and legislative elections to be held within a year, the agreement states), while Hamas is still on the EU's blacklist of terrorist organisations. (H.B./transl.jl)