Slovenian President Offers Assistance to Palestinian People

Ramallah, 30.1.2009  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, is today visiting the Palestinian territories. President Türk was received in Ramallah in the West Bank by the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. During their talks, Dr Türk and Mr Abbas particularly focused on assistance for the Palestinian authorities and the Palestinian people, as well as on the efforts of the international community to secure a permanent cessation of violence in the Middle East.

President Türk said that the main purpose of the visit was to express his support for the Palestinian authorities and people in their yearning for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Dr Türk emphasised that, after recent tragic weeks, the focus should be on relief measures for Palestinians. In accordance with the recent UN Security Council resolution, a permanent and effective ceasefire, increased and more diverse humanitarian aid for Gaza, and national reconciliation among Palestinians should be to the fore in these efforts. According to President Türk, Slovenia will seek assistance in meeting these objectives within the European Union and will continue to support the Egyptian initiative in this area.

Among concrete measures which Slovenia could undertake, President Türk highlighted the assistance of Slovenian experts in clearing mines in the stricken areas in Gaza and the rehabilitation of victims, particularly children who have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder; Slovenia has considerable experience in this field.

Dr Türk appealed to all parties involved, and particularly Israel, to make all necessary arrangements to enable aid to reach the people in Gaza. He also urged the Palestinians to take efforts to accelerate the process of national reconciliation within Palestine, and expressed his agreement with President Abbas' statement, in which he spoke of an efficient and inclusive consensus government, which could lead to the realisation of the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.

President Abbas thanked President Türk for his support and emphasised that the Palestinian authorities are particularly striving for consolidation of the ceasefire. There were still several issues to be resolved, he said, to put an end to the suffering and to help the Palestinian people in the reconstruction, while providing people in Gaza with basic supplies to meet their essential needs. Mr Abbas joined his Slovenian counterpart in emphasising the need to re-establish the national unity of all Palestinians through the initiative put forward (and the assistance offered) by Egypt, and supported by the Arab countries, the UN Security Council and by Slovenia.

Later in his visit, President Türk met Khaled Elgindy, a member of the Negotiations Support Unit of the Palestinian National Authority, who outlined the current status of the peace negotiations. Dr Türk also met the Head of the Foreign Relations Office of the UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East), F. McKinion, and representatives of NGOs operating in the Palestinian territories.

To conclude the state visit, President Türk met Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, with whom he discussed the possibilities of restoring the peace process.