Luxemburg, 23/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the willingness of the EU to work with the representatives of the Palestinian government who are not members of Hamas, and welcomes the relaunch of the Israel-Arab peace initiative at the Riyad Summit of 29 March, and the positive reaction of the Israeli prime minister to the peace efforts of the Arab League. In their conclusions on the Middle East peace process, the 27 EU member states made official the position adopted at the informal meeting in Bremen (see EUROPE 9399). “The EU recalls its readiness to work with and to resume its direct assistance to a Palestinian government whose policy and actions reflect the Quartet principles” (recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and recognition of previous agreements), says the text adopted on Monday. The EU has effectively “initiated cooperation with members of the government who accept these principles”. Ministers stress the importance of strengthening the Palestinian institutions, endorsing the extension of the temporary international mechanism (TIM) for a further three months and calling on Israel to resume the transfer of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues. (ab)