Last update - 00:00 28/10/2006
Solana: EU, Arab states supports PA government of technocrats
By News Agencies
The European Union and Arab states back the idea of a Palestinian government of technocrats to try to end an international aid embargo, the
EU's foreign policy chief said on Saturday.
"It's being worked very hard at this very moment. As we are talking a lot of people are working on this issue [of a technocratic government]...we
hope to see in not a very long period of time a possibility of that," Javier Solana told reporters after arriving in Jordan from Beirut.
Talks on a Palestinian coalition collapsed because rivals Hamas and Fatah could not agree on terms that might have led to an easing of a Western aid embargo, which is designed to push the militant Hamas to recognize
Israel, renounce violence and accept past accords.
"We need a government of experts, a government of whatever you want to call it in which that government could operate as a government of unity
if you want to call it, or experts or professional people," Solana said.
The two factions have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas won the Palestinian election in January. Tension has intensified in recent weeks
after they failed to agree on a coalition.
At least 20 people have been killed in recent internal violence, prompting fears of civil war.
Solana, who visited Israel and the Palestinian territories on his Middle East tour which began last week, said Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was receptive to the EU desire, shared by moderate Arab
states, for the creation of a government of technocrats.
"We have asked that [a government of technocrats] from the European Union, the Arab countries have asked also that and Abu Mazen said very
clearly this is something that he would like also," Solana said, referring to Abbas.
"This will be very important...if the Palestinians are one voice that could be able to talk on behalf of all Palestinians," he added.
Solana says urged Israel to stop Lebanon overflights
The European Union's foreign policy chief on Saturday told reporters in Lebanon that he had urged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to stop Israeli jets from flying over Lebanon, echoing a call made earlier by France.
"I'm coming from Israel to tell you that I talked with the prime minister, I talked with the Minister of Defense and made very, very clear ... that this has to stop," Solana told reporters at a news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. "We want to have [UN] Resolution 1701 applied by everybody," he added.
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said last week that Israel's violations of Lebanese airspace were "extremely dangerous" and the flights should stop immediately.
Israel later said its combat planes would continue to fly over Lebanon.
Israel Air Force jets have routinely flown over Lebanon since a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas ended on August 14 in a UN-brokered ceasefire. An international peacekeeping force, including a French contingent, has been expanded in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon and the United Nations say the Israeli flights violate the ceasefire resolution. Israel says the missions are necessary to help
ensure that arms are not smuggled into southern Lebanon from Syria to rearm Hezbollah.
Solana also pledged his support for Siniora and for the reconstruction of Lebanon, two days before Lebanese politicians are due to hold talks for up to 15 days to discuss demands for a national unity government and a new election law.
"The manner in which Prime Minister Siniora handled this very complicated time is an example of dignity and an example of patriotism," Solana
said.
"You have to reconstruct your country and you will need not only the help and support of your people but also the moral support and the physical support, and the economic support of the international community.
"The European Union will be with you, you can be sure about that," he said.
Later Saturday, Siniora defended the performance of his government during the war and stressed that his administration has maintained unity in the country during the worst of times.
"This current government managed to preserve the unity of the Lebanese in the face of major attacks," Siniora told reporters.
"The principle of a national unity government is something that we all work for," Siniora said ahead of consultations due to start among Lebanese factions on Monday to discuss the possibility of forming a national unity cabinet.
The "consultative talks" which were called for by Nabih Berri, speaker of the Lebanese parliament and head of the Shiite group Amal, and which were due to start on Monday might be delayed until Wednesday because most of the major Muslim and Christian leaders are out of the country.