Minister Fini welcomes appointment of Major General Pietro Pistolese
15 November 2005 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini has expressed his delight on receiving news of the appointment by the Political and Security Committee of the European Union, of Major General Pietro Pistolese, who leads the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units, to head the European assistance mission at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Minister Fini hailed the agreement reached today between Israel and the National Palestinian Authority on the border between Gaza and Egypt, saying that it marked a very significant turning point in the ongoing peace progress.
The request advanced by both the Israeli and Palestinian parties for the European Union to play a third-party role in managing the border crossings had first been mooted by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and the President of the Palestinian National Authority Abu Mazen during Minister Fini's recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Minister Fini actively recommended the idea to the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and to his counterparts in the EU Member States, who debated it in the Council on 7 November last, already reaching a positive stance at that time.
Document Type: Press Release
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Country: Egypt, Italy
Subject: Gaza Strip, Palestine question, Security issues
Publication Date: 15/11/2005
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Country: Egypt, Italy
Subject: Gaza Strip, Palestine question, Security issues
Publication Date: 15/11/2005