Solana does not rule out future Hamas talks
TERESA KÜCHLER
17.02.2006 @ 10:55 CET
The EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said that the EU will not decide what its relationship will be with the Palestinian Authority until a new Palestinian government takes office.
After visiting Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah on Thursday (16 February), Mr Solana said he did not rule out future negotiations with a Hamas government.
Javier Solana -"Democracy is not only to participate in the elections."
(Photo: Austrian EU Presidency)
"Until we know the composition of the government, we will not invite anybody from Hamas," to Europe, Solana said according to Reuters.
"We may have to think how to deal with the new government but it has to be decided at that moment," he added.
Solana however raised a finger of warning towards Hamas, saying "We cannot accept that they use arms and at the same time hold seats in the parliament. Democracy is not only to participate in the elections."
He also repeated EU demands that the Palestinian Authority recognise the state of Israel, writes El Pais.
EU foreign ministers earlier said they want to continue aid to the Palestinian Authority until a new government formation - although under strict conditions - fearing that a complete cut-off of funding will create room for Iran and Saudi Arabia to step in.
Ministers defended their stance saying a situation of chaos in the region should be avoided in order not to create a "mini-Iran", referring to existing ties between Iran and Hamas.
Israel also said on Thursday according to Reuters it would not stand in the way of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
It had earlier urged donor countries such as the EU, which is the largest donor, to stop providing support to the Palestinian Authority from this weekend, when a new parliament with a Hamas majority is sworn in.
Russian-Hamas talk could be "useful"
Solana also told both Turkey and Russia that if they encouraged Hamas to adopt the stance of the Middle East peace quartet, then talks between them and Hamas "may be helpful."
Russian president Vladimir Putin said last week he would invite Hamas to Moscow for talks, a move which angered Israel which has called for a boycott of the militant movement.
