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Ashton in Gaza calls for opening of border crossings

19-07-2010

On her second trip to the Middle East, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton has called for the opening of border crossings to Gaza to allow the crossing of people and goods, describing the continued blockade as “unacceptable, unsustainable and counterproductive”.

“There are small signs of change in policy to allow goods into Gaza,” Ashton said on Sunday (18 July) while visiting a UN school in Gaza, “but we continue to call for the opening of the crossings to enable people and goods to move around… Improving the economic situation in the Gaza Strip is not simply a matter of letting in aid – it is a matter of revitalizing the local economy with private sector development and commercial activity, including exports.”

Speaking on the same day after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the EU High Representative welcomed the recent easing of the blockade as “an important step forward”, but stressed the current situation was “not in the interests of any of those concerned”.

Ashton also discussed the peace process with Lieberman, as she had with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah on Saturday, listening carefully to the positions of both sides: “I have… encouraged both the Palestinian Authority and Israel to begin discussions on all the final status issues, including security, Jerusalem and borders. The outlines of a deal are very well known.”

She added: “I believe we need to see confidence building measures and at the same time avoid measures that undermine the peace process. In this respect, I have to express my deep concern about recent settlement activity in East Jerusalem.”

On Saturday, the High Representative announced the EU would allocate an extra €40 million to the Palestinian Authority as direct financial support, and would explore possibilities for further financial support in the Autumn. In Gaza, she pledged an extra €2 million from the EU budget for schools and NGO work in Gaza. (ENPI Info Centre)

Remarks by HR Catherine Ashton during her visit to Gaza at UNRWA school and summer camp

Remarks by HR Catherine Ashton after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman

Remarks by HR Catherine Ashton after meeting Prime Minister Fayyad

Video coverage: Catherine Ashton visit to Gaza ; Catherine Ashton visit to Sderot and Jerusalem ; Catherine Ashton visit to Ramallah

ENPI Info Centre – Commission agrees extra €71 million for Palestinians (14-07-10)

The EU and the Middle East Peace Process

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