Brussels, 12/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers have welcomed Thursday's agreement in Mecca between Hamas and Fatah on the formation of a Palestinian government of national unity. “The European Union stands ready to work with a legitimate Palestinian government that adopts a platform reflecting the Quartet's principles”. “We hope that this agreement will lay the foundations of an end to the violence,” German Foreign Minister and current Council President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told press after the Council. It is too early at this stage to tell whether or not a government of national unity will observe the three conditions set by the Quartet so that cooperation with and financial aid to the Palestinian government can be resumed. These conditions are: recognition of Israel's right to exist, renunciation of violence and respect for previously agreed international agreements. “We are waiting for the effective creation of the government. We want to see its programme,” Mr Steinmeier said. EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana “hopes” that the agreement between Hamas and Fatah will create an “open door” for progress in the peace process. Meetings over the next few weeks will allow more detailed analysis of the real consequences of the agreement, Mr Solana said. The Quartet will meet once again in Berlin on 21 February, after a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Condoleezza Rice on 19 February.
The Council also adopted conclusions on Lebanon, in which Ministers welcome the international conference held in Paris on 25 January, which gathered commitments amounting to €7.6 billion for the macro-economic reconstruction and stabilisation of the country. 40% of this sum was donated by the EU and its member states. Ministers believe that the adoption of an action plan on the implementation of the neighbourhood policy in Lebanon will allow greater cooperation in future between the EU and Lebanon within the framework of the Association Agreement and Barcelona Process. The Council also re-stated its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon and called on Syria and other countries in the region not to interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs. (hb)