Posted on 01/30/2006 12:17:27 PM PST by Indy Pendance
BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Monday asked Hamas to renounce violence and recognize the right of Israel to exist.
"We have urged Hamas and all other factions to renounce violence, to recognize Israel's right to exist, and to disarm," Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the EU presidency, told reporters.
The foreign ministers, in a meeting, asked the newly elected Palestinian Legislative Council to "support the formation of a government that is committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel, based on existing agreements and onthe road map, as well as on the rule of law, reform and sound fiscal management."
On this base, said Plassnik, the EU is ready to support Palestine's economic development.
Plassnik said the foreign ministers emphasized the "central role" of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and expressed their full support for Abbas' determination to pursue a peaceful solution to the conflict with Israel.
The landslide victory of Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections last week caught the EU by surprise. With Hamas still on its list of terrorist organizations, the EU has little room for manoeuvre. In theory, the EU is prohibited from any official contacts with the group.
Obviously in a bid to quell fears that the EU would cut its financial aid to Palestine, EU Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said the majority of the EU's aid does notpass through the hands of the Palestinian Authority.
Of the 280 millions euros (340 million U.S. dollars) provided by the European Commission last year, three quarters have been spent through partners, contractors, non-governmental organizations, she said. Only one quarter was allocated to fund the PA, of which, only half has been paid, she said. No plan for further payment to the PA is in place, she said.
She called for concerted efforts to make the Palestinian Authority function. "Israel would have to do its bit. Arabs would also have to come in. And We would certainly also take our responsibility," she said.
Even if they did, would you trust them at their word?
Oh,please...oh,please.....we'll be your best friend!
To which Hamas and all other factions replied "or what? The UN will scold Israel? BWAAHAAAA". Then the microphone went dead.
May as well ask bears to stop crapping in the woods.
Hamas will give their reply, as soon as they can stop laughing.
Should be fun to watch. Not that I would believe Hamas if they did.
Hahahahahahaahahahahaha! Rhetorical question.
Yep... I see how this is going to play out.
The Euros will be SO HAPPY if Hamas finally 'says' they don't want to destory Israel, it won't matter how many actions they take that demonstate otherwise.
I'm confused. Shouldn't EU support Hamas?
Hamas sent their reply by storming the EU building in gaza today over the Mohammed cartoons.
Not suprising.
Appeasement in our lifetime.
Tell Hamas to ban Homophobia while you're at it.
I join others in expecting Hamas to publically recognize Israel, and it will mean as much as when Bin Laden offers a truce. They will continue to plot and attack with a smile on their face and UN money in the pocket.
Leopard told to remove spots.
Trees told to grow without roots.
Waves told to stay on the shore.
Sky told to turn green.
Grass told to change to pink polka dots.
The only thing that HamASS understands is violence.
Shouldn't there be a Fig Leaf Alert on this one? The EU is just looking for a fig leaf to continue shelling out money to the new guys in control.
Nice muslies...nice....sit.
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