MIDDLE EAST: Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos meets Palestinian leaders in West Bank

Record ID: 574613

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos meets Palestinian leaders in West Bank
  • Date: 3rd February 2010
  • Summary: ***FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (FEBRUARY 2, 1010) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RIYAD AL-MALKI GREETING MORATINOS PALESTINIAN AND SPANISH FLAGS VARIOUS OF MORATINOS AND AL-MALKI DURING MEETING MORATINOS AND AL-MALKI SHAKNG HANDS MORE OF MEETING MORATINOS AND AL-MALKI WALKING TOWARDS MICROPHONES MEDIA CREWS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RIYAD AL-MALKI SAYING: "We discussed all the main issues including the difficult political situation, how to resolve it, and the role that the EU could play as part of the Quartet." PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS SAYING "We spoke on our excellent bilateral relations. I also reiterated the Spanish government's promise to help and cooperate with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority, like the Prime Minister (of Spain) has announced. The development cooperation will maintain all its solidarity efforts. Spain will continue to maintain its share of help: economic and financial assistance to help the Palestinian people." MAN DURING NEWS CONFERENCE FOREIGN MINISTERS WALKING AWAY JERUSALEM (FEBRUARY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS SAYING "He (Mitchel) told me that they (Israelis and Palestinians) are very close (to re-starting negotiations), and they need is a last push and we are all trying to give them that last push." JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS SAYING "I have just found out about the White House's decision that President Obama will not be visiting Spain in the Spring to attend the EU-US summit as previously scheduled. The Spanish government understands the decision that the North American government had to make. But as I understand, the President's schedule is quite loaded at the moment." MEDIA PRESENT MORATINOS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABAYUY4MZQXJQ21U5L144RL5FK
  • Story Text: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos met Palestinian leaders on Tuesday (February 2) in an effort to boost peace talks with Israel.
    Following a meeting with the Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Malki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, al-Malki said that he and Moratinos had discussed the role Spain could play during its EU presidency and through the Quartet.
    "We discussed all the main issues including the difficult political situation, how to resolve it, and the role that the EU could play as part of the Quartet," he told reporters.
    Moratinos said that Spain will support and cooperate with the Palestinian government and people, economically and financially.
    "We spoke on our excellent bilateral relations. I also reiterated the Spanish government's promise to help and cooperate with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority, like the Prime Minister (of Spain) has announced. The development cooperation will maintain all its solidarity efforts. Spain will continue to maintain its share of help: economic and financial assistance to help the Palestinian people," he said.
    During a news conference held in Jerusalem on Monday (February 1), Moratinos said he had spoken to U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell who expressed optimism over Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
    "He (Mitchel) told me that they (Israelis and Palestinians) are very close (to re-starting negotiations), and they need is a last push and we are all trying to give them that last push," he told reporters.
    Moratinos said in December that Spain, which took over the EU presidency for six months in January, would strive for quick talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
    Moratinos said he understands United States President Barak Obama's decision not to attend the EU-US summit.
    "I have just found out about the White House's decision that President Obama will not be visiting Spain in the Spring to attend the EU-US summit as previously scheduled. The Spanish government understands the decision that the North American government had to make. But as I understand, the President's schedule is quite loaded at the moment," he said.
    Moratinos added that plans for the summit will proceed as scheduled.
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