Brussels, 16/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - France, which chaired the International Donors' Conference for the Palestinian State in December 2007, as well as the three co-presidents of this major conference (Ed: the European Commission, Tony Blair representing the Middle East Quartet, and Norway as president of the ad hoc Liaison Committee of international donors) met in Paris on Thursday 15 January to take stock of events in Gaza. In a joint declaration, they call for an “immediate and complete ceasefire” and for all border crossing points to be reopened as part of a lasting settlement. Gaza was from the outset part of the remit of the Paris conference which was designed to help the Palestinian Authority lay the foundations of a viable Palestinian state. “Gaza will remain part of the donors' efforts, since a viable Palestinian state cannot emerge without Gaza”, they say in their declaration. The chair and co-chairs of the Paris conference call for the restoration of Palestinian unity. “Restoring Palestinian unity based on the commitments of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) would be welcome progress in this process”, they say. The idea of organising a conference devoted to urgent humanitarian needs and in due course the rebuilding of Gaza was welcomed. The chair and co-chairs are convinced that: “Only a viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel will provide peace and security to all sides. (…) It is high time to create, on the ground, a viable Palestinian state. The entire international community supports this objective”, they conclude. (H.B./transl.jl)