Dr Janez Drnovšek concludes his official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous Territories
Ramallah, Palestinian Autonomous Territories, 03/08/2006 | press release
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Janez Drnovšek today continued his two-day official visit to Israel with an official visit to the Palestinian Autonomous Territories, where he met the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
During the course of their lengthy conversation, the two presidents made it clear that Slovenia and the Palestinian Authority are interested in further development contacts in all spheres. In the light of the fact that Slovenia is due to assume the EU Presidency in 2008 and will at that time devote significant attention to the peace process in the Middle East, the two presidents voiced their support for the proposal to open appropriate diplomatic missions in Ljubljana and in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories.
President Drnovšek’s talks with Palestinian leaders focused on possibilities for continuing the peace process following Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian elections and following the elections due to take place in Israel at the end of this month.
The Slovene President underlined the fact that the international community expects negotiations that will lead to a lasting peace to continue and expects the representatives of Hamas, if they are to take on the responsibility of government, to respect the principle of non-violent resolution of disputes, recognise the state of Israel and fulfil all agreements concluded to date. This is the condition which will allow the international community to accept and recognise the results of the democratic elections in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories.
Presidents Drnovšek and Abbas also gave a press conference at which they stated that the international community should not be allowed to ‘punish’ the inhabitants of the Palestinian Autonomous Territories because of the election results but should continue with the established forms of financial support to fund the Palestinian Authority.
President Drnovšek also visited Bethlehem today, where he visited Christ’s birthplace. While in Ramallah, he visited the local Christian community and was shown around their church.