09/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU would be prepared to resume operations at the Rafah border crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strait (EUBAM), if Israel and Hamas were to agree on a ceasefire, High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana has said. EUBAM has been suspended since June 2007. “We have said since the start of this conflict that we were prepared to resume operations if ceasefire arrangements were agreed,” Solana said in Ankara on 8 January. The Mubarak-Sarkozy plan, proposed this week by Egypt and France with the aid of the EU, provides for deployment of a force responsible for the controlled opening of the border separating Egypt and Gaza to put an end to the traffic in arms by means of illegal tunnels and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. MEP Elmar Brok (EPP), currently visiting the region, has also called on the EU to offer assistance to Egypt so that border crossings can be opened swiftly. Brok remains, however, firmly opposed to direct negotiation between the EU and Hamas. (H.B./transl.rt)