Dr. Ashrawi Meets with the Belgian Minister of Defense, Representatives from the Belgian Ministry of Defense
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 15 July 2012 15:26
PNN
As part of her ongoing diplomatic meetings, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, today met with the Belgian Minister of Defense, Pieter De Crem and Chief of Staff of the Belgian Ministry of Defense, Ludwig Van Der Veken, as well as representatives from the Ministry and the Belgian Consulate in a political briefing.
She discussed the latest political developments in Palestine as well as issues of mutual concern with Belgium.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi stressed, "Clearly we are in the middle of a crisis. Israel is deliberately and systematically breaching international and humanitarian law, and its unilateral violations on the ground are the antithesis to the requirements for peace. If there is no intervention to curb Israeli violations, Israel would have succeeded in destroying the prospects for peace by destroying the chances of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."
"It is evident that the US-Israel strategic alliance is undermining the standing of the US and the role of the Quartet in peacemaking. Thus, it is of the utmost urgency for Europe to take bold initiatives and concrete steps to counter Israel's impunity and its prejudicial measures on the ground before it is too late. The main impediment preventing us from developing our own economy and national institutions remains the occupation, a system of direct control and enslavement whereby Israel is violating all Palestinian human rights and freedoms and confiscating our land and resources, while completing the siege and ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem" concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
Dr. Ashrawi answered questions on Palestinian efforts to approach the UN General Assembly and international agencies and organizations, and on the conditions of Palestinian Christians. The meeting also stressed continued Palestinian-European coordination and cooperation and enhanced consultations on political, economic and international issues of mutual interest.
