- Title: WEST BANK: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos on Middle East tour
- Date: 16th April 2009
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (APRIL 15, 2009) (REUTERS) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL MORATINOS GETTING OUT OF CAR AND SHAKING HANDS WITH PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER RIAD AL MALKI AND WALKING INTERIOR OF MEETING ROOM SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER IN MEETING PHOTOGRAPH LABELLED IN SPANISH 'HOLY LAND PALESTINE' MIGUEL MORATINOS STANDING BESIDE RIAD AL MALKI PREPARING TO ADDRESS JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL MORATINOS SAYING: "I think that (Israeli Foreign Minister) Mr Lieberman has referred to and accepted the 'Road Map' (to peace). The Road Map includes reference to and inherently leads to the two-state solution. We are therefore going to listen to him, if he is evaluating his own politics in relation with the negotiations with the Palestinians and the international position. Accordingly, we are going to respect him and listen to him. And from there, logically, we are going to work, since it is the only thing we can do, in order to make possible the distant dream of having two states living in peace and security" JOURNALIST ON SITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER RIAD AL MALKI SAYING OF MORATINOS: "He is going to meet with both (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and Lieberman and the whole idea that you know Spain is very much preoccupied and worried about you know, the peace process and where this peace process will lead you know if Israel is not any more a partner to the peace process if the new Israeli government is not really interested to renew the political negotiations" JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES MORATINOS AND MALKI LEAVING ROOM CONVOY CARRYING MORATINOS MORATINOS GETTING OUT OF CAR AND WAVING SIGN READING IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH 'COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MORATINOS SITTING WITH PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD SALAM FAYYAD SITTING MORATINOS TALKING TWO MEN SITTING DURING MEETING MORATINOS AND FAYYAD TALKING MORE OF MORATINOS AND FAYYAD TALKING PALESTINIAN FLAG EXTERIOR OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' BUILDING
- Embargoed: 1st May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA21E3WP104Y8WOBSIFPQS8LV4O
- Story Text: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos on Wednesday (April 15) held meetings with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Information Minister Riad Al Malki in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
At a news conference after meeting Al Malki, Moratinos confirmed his support of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in accordance with the so-called Road Map to peace. He also referred to the new Israeli government of right wingers including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
"I think that Mr Lieberman has referred to and accepted the 'Road Map'. The Road Map includes reference to and inherently leads to the two-state solution. We are therefore going to listen to him, if he is evaluating his own politics in relation with the negotiations with the Palestinians and the international position. Accordingly, we are going to respect him and listen to him. And from there, logically, we are going to work, since it is the only thing we can do, in order to make possible the distant dream of having two states living in peace and security," said Moratinos.
Al Malki confirmed his belief in Spain's support of the peace talks, saying of the visit by Moratinos: "He is going to meet with both Netanyahu and Lieberman and the whole idea that you know Spain is very much preoccupied and worried about you know, the peace process and where this peace process will lead you know if Israel is not any more a partner to the peace process if the new Israeli government is not really interested to renew the political negotiations."
Afterwards, Moratinos met Prie Minister Fayyad at the Palestinian Council of Ministers.
Moratinos is on an official visit to the region in a bid to promote the peace process. He is expected to meet Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday (April 16).
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (April 12) telephoned Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since he became Israel's prime minister and said they should both advance peace efforts, Israeli officials said.
Netanyahu, whose right-leaning government took office on March 31, said "he intended to resume" talks and cooperation with the Palestinians for the sake of promoting peace, the statement said.
Erekat's remarks followed comments last week by far-right Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that the statehood talks launched at Annapolis were no longer valid.
Netanyahu himself has been more vague, saying his priority was to focus on economic and security issues instead of negotiating core issues such as statehood borders and the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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