HOLY LAND: THE E.U. WILL DEAL WITH 'HONEST MEN'

EU ready for selective cooperation with Palestinians
By Shada Islam
dpa German Press Agency

Bremen- European Union foreign ministers Saturday agreed towork with non-Hamas members of the Palestinian national unitygovernment as part of a renewed drive for peace in the Middle East.

EU diplomats said the 27-nation bloc could not ignore progressmade by the new Hamas-Fatah government in meeting western demands forrecognition of Israel, non-violence and commitment to past peacetreaties.

While the Palestinian government had not totally changed itsstance on these issues, there was a definite "movement" towardsmeeting the three conditions, said an EU diplomat, speaking oncondition of anonymity.

"We cannot be blind. We have to recognize progress," the diplomatinsisted.

The EU will continue contacts with Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas but also start talking with Palestinian Foreign Minister ZiyadAbu Amr and Finance Minister Salaam Fayad, the diplomat added.

"These are honest men that we know very well and with whom we havealready worked," the EU diplomat said.While noting that the new Palestinian Authority was on the righttrack, ministers did not agree to immediately resume direct aid tothe Palestinian Authority.

However, current humanitarian assistance programmes channelled tothe Palestinians through non-governmental bodies will progressivelyfocus on assistance for Palestinian institution-building.

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