Austrian FM Plassnik: “Help for the Palestinians – but no funding for violence and terrorism” – EU Presidency press release/Non-UN document (excerpts)

---

Plassnik: "Help for the Palestinians – but no funding for violence and terrorism"

Foreign Minister after the meeting of the Middle East Quartet in New York

 

“With its offer to the other partners in the Middle East Quartet to develop an international financing mechanism to channel humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, the EU has affirmed its active role in the Middle East and its commitment to finding constructive solutions. This is also in tune with the Austrian Presidency’s desire to work actively for tangible progress in the current critical situation in the Middle East”, Foreign Minister Plassnik commented on her return from the meeting with the Quartet members USA, Russia and the United Nations in New York.

"We are by no means indifferent to the fate of the Palestinians. With our offer of a temporary financing mechanism, we are demonstrating our concrete willingness to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. At the same time it must be clear: we call on Hamas not to abdicate their responsibility towards the people who elected them. We demand they make a clear commitment to renounce violence and to the principles of a peace settlement in the Middle East – that means above all also recognising Israel’s right to exist. There cannot and will not be any retreat from these demands of the international community. Any financing of violence or terrorism with EU resources is completely out of the question”, Plassnik stressed.

In this context, she also described the meeting of the Quartet with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as particularly useful. These talks have underlined the common interest in a peace settlement for the whole region. The three Arab foreign ministers reported on their efforts to exert influence on the Hamas government in terms of the Arab League initiative for peace with Israel.

Plassnik welcomed the fact that the new Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas have emphasised their basic willingness to negotiate.”Both parties must make their contribution to getting the peace process back on the road again. Unilateral measures are not suited to creating a stable, lasting basis of trust."

In conclusion, Plassnik said that with yesterday’s Quartet meeting, the international community “has once again demonstrated a common front but also its unbroken commitment in the region. It is now important to implement the Quartet’s decision on the principle of a financing mechanism. I for my part will already use the next meeting with my colleagues in the EU Council to deepen the discussion, in order to take concrete steps on the basis of proposals from the Commission.”