Eurasia Press & News
RAMALLAH (AFP) — Europe will have to re-evaluate its links with the Palestinians in the event of a Hamas victory in next week’s legislative elections, Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Monday.
Asked about how a Hamas victory would impact on future European financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, Moratinos told reporters in Ramallah that “the necessary evaluations” would have to be made and “a decision would be taken” with regard to funding.
But he, nonetheless, defended Hamas’ right to run in the parliamentary poll and said Europe would honour the outcome.
“We will respect the result of these democratic Palestinian elections in which we believe all political groups should participate,” said Moratinos who is a former European Union envoy to the region.
Moratinos’ words echoed comments made last month by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana who said the 25-nation bloc would find it very difficult to channel funding to a group which appears on the European Union’s terrorist blacklist.
“If Hamas wins, it will be very difficult for the European Union to continue offering help and money to the Palestinian National Authority,” he said.
The European Union is the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority.The EU is also one of the four sponsors of the Middle East peace roadmap targeting the creation of a Palestinian state.
Speaking at the same press conference, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Qidwa assured his Spanish counterpart that it was one thing for Hamas to win seats in parliament, but it was another thing for the Islamist movement to form part of the government.
“For that, they will need to first stick to the political line taken by the Palestinian Authority,” Qidwa told reporters, referring to Hamas’ steadfast refusal to accept both the existence of Israel and the 1994 Oslo Accords.
Moratinos also said that all political groups “whether Hamas or any another party,” should benefit from a level playing field in terms of the right to campaign, in a clear reference to Israel’s decision to ban the movement from campaigning in occupied and annexed East Jerusalem.
The minister said he was confident that the Palestinian people would on January 25 show the world that they was capable of “celebrating free and transparent elections at this key moment for their future.”
The ruling Palestinian faction Fateh is facing an unprecedented challenge from Hamas at the election on January 25 with polls showing that Fateh’s lead between the two narrowing rapidly.
Moratinos said he hoped that after the Israeli general election at the end of March, both sides would “take on board the responsibility for making peace” — a move which would be supported by both Spain and Europe.
“I believe that 2006 could be a year of peace for the region,” he said.
The Spanish minister also met with Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Information Minister Nabil Shaath, but had to cancel a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who left late Sunday for Kuwait to attend the funeral of the Emir Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
During his three-day visit, Moratinos will also attend a ceremony to mark 20 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Spain and Israel.
