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Solana:
I Was Shocked By Arafat’s Conditions
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"I
was very, very shocked to see the situation in which Arafat
finds himself." |
OCCUPIED
RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 25 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) –
After a meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Wednesday,
April 24, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that he was
"shocked" by the conditions in Arafat's headquarters, and
said that he did not believe that subjecting Arafat to such conditions
could bring about any positive results.
"I
was very, very shocked to see the situation in which Arafat finds
himself. I do not think that this leads to a resolution of any
problems," Solana told reporters after meeting Israel’s Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv.
In
the meeting, Arafat stressed "the importance of the immediate
Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories," said Arafat
adviser Nabil Abu Rudeineh.
He
said Solana recalled the EU's demand for an immediate Israeli pullout
from Palestinian towns seized in their nearly month-old offensive on
the West Bank.
An
EU spokesman said Wednesday's meeting was "positive and
productive ... Arafat appeared calm and satisfied that at least the
European delegates were allowed to visit him."
The
talks included a discussion of "how the European Union could help
secure implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions"
calling for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and movement towards a
ceasefire, the spokesman said.
Solana
and Moratinos and their entourage of six others started their day
driving directly from Tel Aviv, where they landed, to Ramallah where
they pulled up in a convoy flanked by four Israeli military vehicles.
But
the army forced them to get out of their cars and walk the final 300
meters to Arafat's offices.
In
addition to the Israeli offensive, the EU officials also discussed
with Arafat humanitarian issues and concerns for his own situation
amid rumors in recent days that the Israelis might make a movement
against him.
The
spokesman would not elaborate, except to say, "The possibility
exists. The tanks are here."
Solana
had already traveled to Israel on April 4 with Spanish Foreign
Minister Josep Pique, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency
until June. But they were refused Israeli authorization to see Arafat
and flew home empty-handed.
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