SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Egypt), Feb25 (NNN-WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas said that any plans that are not based on the resolutions of international legitimacy will not succeed as long as they do not result in an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Addressing the first Arab League-European Union summit being held in Egypt’s Sharm al-Sheikh city, President Abbas stressed that attempts by the US administration and the Israeli government to normalize relations with Arab and Islamic countries will not bring peace and security to Israel.
He added that implementing the Arab peace initiative, presented in 2002, is the only way to achieve peace.
The President called on the European Union and its member states to take practical steps to achieve peace, beginning with confronting the Israeli settlement projects in the occupied land and consolidating the vision of a two-state solution with irreversible political and legal steps, including recognition by the EU member states of the State of Palestine.
He also called for holding an international peace conference as well as forming an international multilateral mechanism to take care of the negotiations that should end the longest occupation of modern history and achieve peace and security for all.
President Abbas urged the EU countries to activate Article 2 of the European-Israeli Association Agreement of 1995, and arbitrate the issue of Israel’s deduction of Palestinian tax revenues as well as issues related to human rights violations.
He also called on Arab and European countries to form a financial safety net for the Palestinian budget in order to enable the Palestinians to face the Israeli actions.
President Abbas expressed hope that the EU would help organize and monitor the parliamentary elections being prepared in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that the current US administration encourages Israel to act as a state above the law, “thus the United States is not qualified to play the role of mediator alone in the peace process after all these actions which are against the Palestinian right and international legitimacy.”
“Is it not time for the European countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so?” the president asked, stressing that “not to recognize Palestinianright to self-determination is a step contrary to your values and European principles.”
President Abbas stressed that the Palestinian people will not disappear from existence and will remain steadfast in their land, build their state institutions and continue their legitimate struggle for freedom and independence.
Launched Sunday, leaders and government heads of 28 European countries and 21 Arab states will meet during the two-day summit to discuss joint challenges and boost mutual cooperation opportunities.
This is the first ever platform that brings together the Arab and European heads of state and government to tackle the pressing issues, atop of which terrorism, organized crime and illegal immigration. — NNN-WAFA
