EU statement on passing away of Yasser Arafat – European Union press release/Non-UN document

[ 11-11-2004 | Press releases | General Affairs and External Relations ]

Minister Bot, President of the Council of the European Union, conveys profound condolences to Madame Arafat, the family of the deceased and to the Palestinian people.

In him the Palestinian people, both within and outside the Palestinian Territories, have lost an historic leader and a democratically elected President, whose devotion and single-minded commitment to the Palestinian national cause throughout his life was never in doubt. Although he has not lived to see the birth of a Palestinian state, we will work with the Palestinian authorities and the international community to contribute to realizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people.       

Minister Bot commended the Palestinian leadership for their demonstration of responsibility to maintain the functioning of Palestinian institutions in this difficult time. He urged the Palestinian people to gather behind its leadership and stressed that they may be assured of the undiminished support of the European Union on the path towards a peaceful, durable and just settlement of the conflict, which both they and the people of Israel so richly deserve.