Strasbourg, 05/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - “Hamas cannot change its past, but it can and must change its future”. If it decides in this future that there is no place for terror, violence or refusing Israel's right to exist, the EU will be able to respond suitably, as it always had done, explained the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana in his conclusion on Wednesday afternoon while addressing MEPs on the subject of developments following the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian lections on 25 January, and the Israeli elections on 28 March. These elections created a new situation. Mr Solana recognised that there was no question of speaking of “business as usual” and said that the action of the EU would depend on two principles that were only contradictory in appearance, rigour, necessary for preserving the principles of the EU since the Europe Council of Venice in 1980 (EUROPE 14 June 1980) and flexibility, necessary for adapting to what is going on the ground. “Unfortunately”, deplored Mr Solana, the programme of the Hamas led government gives absolutely no indication about its intention to respect these principles and the consequence for the EU is, “the impossibility of regarding Hamas as a valid partner until it changes its stance”. Israel, Mr Solana noted, had seen the victory of Kadima in the March elections. This party had not had the results it hoped for and that in these elections, economic and social factors had undoubtedly had more of an influence than purely political factors, “perhaps most worryingly for the peace process, the elections seem to have shown a consolidation of the desire for separation…and lack of dialogue with the Palestinian people in determining Israel's borders”.
Apart from the aspects linked to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the victory in Palestine of “a movement affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood represents an entirely new development”(democratically elected, admitted Mr Solana). He provided assurances that the “EU does not want on principle to see the Hamas government fail” but it does want this government to respect the principles of the Quartet, the rule of law and for it to “maintain the pluralistic nature of Palestinian society…Now more than ever, it needs to be stressed that only a negotiated solution can prove stable and lasting. The EU should here continue to press both sides to commit themselves to a negotiated two-state solution. It must be pointed out that, in the EU's contention, peace should be based on observances of the 1967 borders and only any territorial adjustments agreed to by both sides will be acceptable”, explained Mr Solana. The High Representative pointed out that the EU had two missions operating on the ground: one supporting reform of the Palestinian police, the other contributing to controlling the Rafah border crossing (since its opening in November 2005, almost 200,000 people had gone from Egypt into the Gaza Strip and vice-versa, he noted). According to Mr Solana, one of the main EU objectives is to “get through this incipient period of uncertainty so that, when opportunities for a negotiated peace resurface, we can continue to enjoy the trust of Israelis and Palestinians”. Mr Solana explained that with regard to Palestine they would continue to support President Abbas and his peace programme supported by an “overwhelming majority of Palestinian voters” and that they would continue to supply aid to the Palestinian people by trying to maintain, “the Palestinian Authority's institutional fabric, which we have put so much effort and money into building and whose continuity is crucial if the creation of an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state is one day to become a reality”; with regard to Israel, the EU will continue to reject unilateral solutions that could compromise a solution based on two states and it will follow very closely the developments in East Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and the construction of the Separation Wall; Israel has responsibilities as an “occupying power”, notably that of facilitating the transport of humanitarian aid in the occupied territories, warned Mr Solana who underlined that Israel had the other obligation “to transfer to the Palestinian authority the revenue from customs duties and taxes which it collects on its behalf. This is Palestinian money that cannot be withheld”. He explained that they were prepared to help find a solution to this problem.
In the context of the overall situation in the Middle East, Mr Solana insisted on continuing cooperation within the Quartet and on the need for Arab countries to do more, “politically and economically” to get Hamas to support the Beirut peace initiative. He launched a final warning that, “In working on the peace process, we have to bear in mind the role of States which may exert a negative influence and the repercussions of the situation in Iraq”. EUROPE will be returning to this debate.
EP Plenary Session (continued)