WEST BANK: Spain's Moratinos and UN Envoy De Soto meet with Palestinian leaders to discuss security ahead of crucial elections.

Record ID: 565247

  • Title: WEST BANK: Spain's Moratinos and UN Envoy De Soto meet with Palestinian leaders to discuss security ahead of crucial elections.
  • Date: 16th January 2006
  • Summary: JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACHGZP8VXLXE4E1RKTS87QK2XS
  • Story Text: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and United Nations Envoy Alvaro De Soto met with Palestinian leaders on Monday (January 16) to discuss preparations ahead of upcoming Palestinian election.
    Moratinos met Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie and Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa in the West Bank city of Ramallah and expressed his wishes in a joint news conference that Palestinians will have the freedom to participate in free and fair elections.
    Moratinos also said that Europe had not had any contact with the militant Islamic group Hamas, which is competing in the election for the first time.
    But the Spanish foreign minister said it was each Palestinian's right to decide who would compete in the polls.
    "It's the Palestinian people's right to decide who participates in the election and we have to respect the Palestinian people's choice," he said.
    "It's the Palestinian society who will decide who will be elected in the election. The European Union would like to see a democratic, stable and peaceful Palestine and we are doing our best to see this aim fulfilled," he added.
    Al-Kidwa echoed Moratino's call for Palestinians to respect the outcome of a free and democratic vote.
    "The outcomes of the elections will be respected and all parties will be elected into the Palestinian Legislative council," al-Kidwa said.
    Meanwhile United Nations Envoy Alvaro De Soto met with Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef on Monday.
    The meeting, which was followed by a news conference held by Youssef, took place in Gaza City in the Gaza Strip.
    Youssef voiced security concerns ahead of the elections, saying Israel's occupation of most cities and villages in the West Bank represented "the biggest challenge" over the ability of his security forces to move and provide security at polling stations.
    "Israel occupies all the towns, villages and cities in the West Bank and our control over the movement no doubt is very limited even inside the towns," Youssef told media.
    He also said there was no agreement reached with Israel concerning security arrangements during this month's ballot.
    "Even until this moment between us and the Israelis there has been no significant agreements or any type of agreement concerning the process of elections or the security inside the West Bank in order to secure the process of elections," Youssef said in Gaza.
    Palestinian elections are scheduled to take place on February 25.
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