Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Tuesday morning to update him on the call by EU foreign ministers on Monday to the Palestinian Authority to dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Later in the day the EU foreign policy chief will meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and US envoy to the Middle East Anthony Zinni, according to the Tel Aviv-based Haaretz.
"I will tell Mr. Arafat tonight ... that he has to continue fighting terror. It's his obligation at this point in time," Solana told reporters after the meeting with Sharon.
Solana said he asked Sharon to ease sanctions on the Palestinian population in the territories, said the paper.
The four major international mediators - Zinni, Solana, UN envoy Terje Larsen and Russian envoy Andrei Vdovin - were also to consult Tuesday, Palestinian officials were quoted as saying.
The statement issued Monday from the 15-member bloc represented an unprecedented call from the EU, which is frequently criticized by Israeli officials for taking a pro-Palestinian stance.
"The following pledges must be given by the Palestinian Authority: the dismantling of Hamas' and Islamic Jihad's terrorist networks, including the arrest and prosecution of all suspects; a public appeal in Arabic for an end to the armed intifada," the statement said – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
