Nickdfresh
01-30-2006, 03:28 PM
EU tells Hamas to disarm, recognize Israel
UK's Jack Straw: 'The onus is now on Hamas'
Monday, January 30, 2006; Posted: 10:46 a.m. EST (15:46 GMT)
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/30/hamas.eu.ap/index.html) -- European Union foreign ministers called on Hamas on Monday to recognize the state of Israel, renounce violence and disarm.
While EU officials are barred from contact with the Islamic militant group, which the 25-nation bloc considers a terrorist organization, the statement made clear the EU would keep diplomatic channels open with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is not a member of Hamas.
"The onus is now on Hamas to renounce violence, to accept that the fundamental democratic principle is that matters are pursued by arguments and peacefully and not by violence," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
The EU foreign ministers were to maintain funds to the Palestinian Authority for the time being and likely would await decisions by Hamas during its formation of a new Palestinian government before deciding if aid would continue to be sent, diplomats said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ruled out any U.S. financial assistance to a Hamas-led Palestinian government. (Full story)
The European diplomats said the EU was calling on members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to support the formation of a government "committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel," based on existing agreements, like the internationally backed "road map" peace plan, which is meant to steer the Palestinians and Israelis to a peace deal.
EU foreign ministers arriving for their talks Monday called on Hamas to clarify its political intentions in an eventual Palestinian government, urging it to embrace peace efforts with Israel.
A Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories on Monday asked the international community not to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. Ismail Hanniyeh promised in Gaza that the money would only go toward helping the Palestinians, and he said a Hamas government is ready to have its spending monitored.
Another senior Hamas official brushed aside warnings that aid could dry up because of the militants' hard-line stand on Israel, saying the Islamic group would not bow to international pressure.
"Cutting off funds now will be a punishment of the Palestinian people, not of Hamas," said Mohammed Nazzal, member of Hamas' decision-making political bureau, which is based in Damascus, Syria.
Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings. The group refuses to disarm or recognize Israel, though it has hinted it could reach a long-term truce or other accommodation with the Jewish state. Since a cease-fire declaration last February, Hamas has not claimed involvement in any suicide attacks.
The United States wants other nations to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, Rice said Sunday before an international strategy session on Mideast peace prospects.
Rice was meeting other members of the so-called Quartet of would-be Mideast peacemakers Monday in London. The group, which includes the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, already is on record as saying "there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state."
The EU ministers were focusing their talks on how the EU is to proceed after Hamas' electoral win last week.
"It is about reaffirming the principles of the EU, such as absence of violence, and a two-state solution," said Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the EU presidency.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Let's hope they do...
UK's Jack Straw: 'The onus is now on Hamas'
Monday, January 30, 2006; Posted: 10:46 a.m. EST (15:46 GMT)
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/30/hamas.eu.ap/index.html) -- European Union foreign ministers called on Hamas on Monday to recognize the state of Israel, renounce violence and disarm.
While EU officials are barred from contact with the Islamic militant group, which the 25-nation bloc considers a terrorist organization, the statement made clear the EU would keep diplomatic channels open with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is not a member of Hamas.
"The onus is now on Hamas to renounce violence, to accept that the fundamental democratic principle is that matters are pursued by arguments and peacefully and not by violence," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
The EU foreign ministers were to maintain funds to the Palestinian Authority for the time being and likely would await decisions by Hamas during its formation of a new Palestinian government before deciding if aid would continue to be sent, diplomats said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ruled out any U.S. financial assistance to a Hamas-led Palestinian government. (Full story)
The European diplomats said the EU was calling on members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to support the formation of a government "committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel," based on existing agreements, like the internationally backed "road map" peace plan, which is meant to steer the Palestinians and Israelis to a peace deal.
EU foreign ministers arriving for their talks Monday called on Hamas to clarify its political intentions in an eventual Palestinian government, urging it to embrace peace efforts with Israel.
A Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories on Monday asked the international community not to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. Ismail Hanniyeh promised in Gaza that the money would only go toward helping the Palestinians, and he said a Hamas government is ready to have its spending monitored.
Another senior Hamas official brushed aside warnings that aid could dry up because of the militants' hard-line stand on Israel, saying the Islamic group would not bow to international pressure.
"Cutting off funds now will be a punishment of the Palestinian people, not of Hamas," said Mohammed Nazzal, member of Hamas' decision-making political bureau, which is based in Damascus, Syria.
Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings. The group refuses to disarm or recognize Israel, though it has hinted it could reach a long-term truce or other accommodation with the Jewish state. Since a cease-fire declaration last February, Hamas has not claimed involvement in any suicide attacks.
The United States wants other nations to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, Rice said Sunday before an international strategy session on Mideast peace prospects.
Rice was meeting other members of the so-called Quartet of would-be Mideast peacemakers Monday in London. The group, which includes the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, already is on record as saying "there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state."
The EU ministers were focusing their talks on how the EU is to proceed after Hamas' electoral win last week.
"It is about reaffirming the principles of the EU, such as absence of violence, and a two-state solution," said Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the EU presidency.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Let's hope they do...