No. 08/06
January 26, 2006

PRELIMINARY EU REACTION TO PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

Following Wednesday’s Palestinian election, Benita Ferrero-Waldner (pictured below), EU Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy has issued a preliminary reaction.

According to Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, “the Palestinian people have turned out in very high numbers to freely express their popular will. I am satisfied that the EU Election Observation Mission led by Véronique de Keyser MEP was able to play an important role in strengthening the confidence of Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights. In holding competitive and credible elections the Palestinians have shown their commitment to determine their political future via democratic means. Democracy however brings with it a responsibility to respect the rule of law, to end violence and to commit to peace by peaceful means through negotiations with Israel. I urge the new Palestinian Government to respect these values and to commit fully to a democratic and peaceful process in line with our longstanding principles for cooperation.”

The EU Election Observation Mission, deployed throughout the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, found that the elections constituted a “fairly-contested electoral process that was efficiently administered by a professional and independent Palestinian Central Elections Commission.”

In terms of working with any new Palestinian government, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said, “we are in principle ready to work with any government of the Palestinians that would seek peace by peaceful means.”

This will include a commitment to the principles that underpin EU-Palestinian agreements, notably the EU-PA Neighborhood Policy Joint Action Plan and the Interim Association Agreement which bind the Palestinian Authority to the fundamental principles of peace and democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights.

Background

EU Foreign Ministers will address the issue of the outcome to the Palestinian elections at their meeting in Brussels on Monday, 30 January. The Quartet will meet in London later that day.

For background information, on this issue please visit:
http://www.eurunion.org/newsweb/HotTopics.htm#mideast.

Further Contact Information
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766