Europe

France to assist Palestinian emergency gov't

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-19 01:41

France will assist the newly established Palestinian emergency government in finding a solution to the "grave situation" in the Gaza strip, French ministry for foreign and European affairs said Monday.

"We will give assistance to the emergency government which was established to deal with the grave situation which has been created by the actions of Hamas in the Gaza strip," foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.

European ministers who are currently meeting in Luxembourg are "in the process of establishing what assistance can be given by the European Union (EU)."

Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas, "who is a pillar of Palestinian democratic institutions, has a special responsibility at the moment," the spokesman said, calling on Palestinian leaders to rally behind his efforts with in order to " resolve the current crisis in a peaceful manner that takes into account the interest of all the Palestinian people with regard to the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders."

France supports President Abbas and condemns the seizure of the Gaza strip by Hamas "using military means," according to the spokesman.

The international community must take into account the difficult situation of the 1.5 million Palestinian people living in the Gaza strip. The EU must in particular contribute to the efforts of international humanitarian organizations and play its rightful role in ensuring the success of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), which is "vital to the population of Gaza," he said.

"It is important to avoid further isolation of the already suffering people of Gaza," the spokesman added.