Stockholm / Brussels, 15/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union Troika (successive EU Council Presidencies and European Commission) approached the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem on Sunday to deplore the execution, in Gaza and Nablus, of two Palestinians accused of "collaboration" with Israel.
A European Commission spokesperson recalled that, before the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels in January 2000, President Arafat had undertaken to respect a moratorium on the death penalty, and, in Stockholm, Council President Anna Lindh launched an appeal to the President of the Palestinian Authority to stick by such a moratorium on the death sentence imposed on two other Palestinians. "According to the EU, the death sentence should be abolished throughout the world, which would contribute to the respect of human dignity", said Lindh, on behalf of the Union.