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EU backs Palestinian technocrat government-Solana
28 Oct 2006 21:25:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

AMMAN, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The European Union and Arab states back the idea of a Palestinian government of technocrats to try to end an international aid embargo, the EU's foreign policy chief said on Saturday.

"It's being worked very hard at this very moment as we are talking a lot of people are working on this issue (a technocratic government)...we hope to see in not a very long period of time a possibility of that," Javier Solana told reporters in English after arriving in Jordan from Beirut.

Talks on a coalition collapsed because rivals Hamas and Fatah could not agree on terms that might have led to an easing of a Western aid embargo, which is designed to push the militant Hamas to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept past accords.

"We need a government of experts, a government of whatever you want to call it in which that government could operate as a government of unity if you want to call it, or experts or professional people whatever you want to call it," Solana said.

The two factions have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas won the Palestinian election in January. Tension has intensified in recent weeks after they failed to agree on a coalition.

At least 20 people have been killed in recent internal violence, prompting fears of civil war.

Solana, who has visited Israel and the Palestinian territories on his tour, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was receptive to the EU desire, shared by moderate Arab states, for the creation of a government of technocrats.

"We have asked that (a government of technocrats) from the European Union, the Arab countries have asked also that and Abu Mazen (Abbas) said very clearly this is something that he would like also," Solana said.

"This will be very important...if the Palestinians are one voice that could be able to talk on behalf of all Palestinians," he added.
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Israeli soldiers stand atop an armoured vehicle at a military staging area near Kibbutz Mefalsim, just outside the northern Gaza Strip, November 26, 2006. A ceasefire between Israel and militants in Gaza took hold and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised restraint in response to early Palestinian truce violations.