Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has urged the European Union to continue directing financial aid to the Palestinian people, even if it meant bypassing the Hamas-led government.
"The EU is a big donor to the Palestinian people," Abbas told reporters during a brief visit in Helsinki before heading to Paris. "The Palestinian people is in bad need of their help and they should continue to help in a way that satisfies them," Abbas said, according to the AP. "Without funds I do not think we can survive," he added.
On her part, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said the EU had to balance its commitment to democracy with the fight against terrorism. "The EU of course respects democracy but we also respect the rules that we have committed to, to be against terrorism," she said.
Meanwhile, PA foreign minister, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, affirmed Wednesday that the Hamas-led government has a clear program for reforms and resistance to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands.
Zahhar's statements were uttered during a meeting with his United Arab Emirate counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed. Both foreign ministers discussed the recent political and social developments in the Palestinian arena.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
