Comments by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner at meeting with PA FM Al-Kidwa – EC press release/Non-UN document

Comments by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner at meeting with PA FM Nasser Al Kidwa on Saturday 17th September.

This is a press release from the European Commission

Ceci est un communiqué de presse de la Commission Européenne

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy met the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minster, Nasser Al Kidwa on Saturday 17th September in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

After the meeting, the Commissioner commented:

“The Israelis’ recent withdrawal from Gaza is an extremely significant step, and we all have a responsibility to ensure that it leads on to further moves towards implementation of the Road Map.

I congratulated Minister Al Kidwa on the Palestinian Authority’s achievement in maintaining calm during the withdrawal. Further efforts will be necessary, not only to prevent attacks against Israel, but also to provide security for ordinary Palestinians.

It is essential that the withdrawal should swiftly bring tangible improvements in the lives of Palestinians living both in Gaza and the West Bank. We agreed that the priorities remain the “six plus three” issues set out by Quartet envoy James Wolfensohn.

I confirmed that the European Commission plans to help revive the Palestinian economy and support the development of institutions capable of tackling the post-disengagement challenges, with a €60 million package. This is one element in around €280 million that we will spend in favour of the Palestinian people this year.

The EU will continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts to lay the foundations for statehood, and I confirmed that I will be visiting the region shortly”.