The President of the Government backs direct and open peace talks between Israel and Palestine
President's News - 2010.9.7
The President of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, received the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Salam Fayyad, at Moncloa Palace.
The interview took place within the framework of a high-level meeting between Spain and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) attended by the President of the Government and five Ministers; a clear demonstration of the strong Spanish support for the creation of a viable Palestinian State in the near future.
At a joint press conference with Salam Fayyad, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero confirmed that the first high-level meeting represents "a clear and firm gesture of support for the aspiration to create a Palestinian State, for peace in the Middle East, for peace with its neighbours and for feasible co-existence in the region".
The President of the Government explained that the meeting was accompanied by a raising of the rank of Palestinian representation in Spain to mission status. The central political issue was the backing by the White House of the process of direct dialogue between Israel and Palestine.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero expressed his unconditional support for the Palestinian National Authority because he believes it has been demonstrating its capacity for dialogue, flexibility and "it seeks peace through peace". "It seeks a fair solution for Palestine but does so with commitment, with agreement and with dialogue", he added.
The President of the Government informed Prime Minister Fayyad that he can count on support from Spain in the exercise of his leadership among Palestinians in order to work in favour of reconciliation and for the new peace process to reach a positive conclusion.
"The vast majority of countries around the world hope for the creation of a Palestinian State, fair and reasonable coexistence with Israel and the defence of security for Israel", he added.
The President of the Government recalled that Spain has been providing political and economic support as well as cooperation to the Palestinian people for three decades now and has become one of the main donors behind the gradual construction of the essential public authorities required to guarantee security and so that, when the time comes in which they have their own State, it can be "a democratic and free society where the Rule of Law prevails".
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero also said that the European Union is working in favour of the dialogue for peace in the Middle East but he believes Europe should play a greater role and could exert a positive influence for the achievement of that goal, as does Salam Fayyad.
High-Level Meeting between Spain and the Palestinian National Authority
The high-level meeting provided an opportunity for relations to be forged between the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, of Home Affairs, of Industry, of the Presidency and of Environmental, Rural and Marine Affairs.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, met at Viana Palace with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Riyad Al-Maliki. During their meeting, the two Ministers confirmed the excellent state of relations between Spain and Palestine and talked about the progress being achieved in the peace process.
Pool Moncloa