RAMALLAH, September 10, 2015 (WAFA)
– Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Al-Malki Thursday
met with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius in Paris to
discuss a number vital issues.
Speaking to the local radio
station Mawtini, al-Malki stated that such a Palestinian-French ministerial
meeting would be held for the first time and would be attended by a Palestinian
delegation headed by Premier Rami Hamdallah.
Underscoring the importance of
the ministerial meeting's timing, al-Malki said it “reflects the
solid Palestinian-French relations”.
The top Palestinian diplomat
revealed during the radio talk that the Palestinian delegation would sign five
political and financial agreements, including agreements on projects that would
support water and education sectors in Palestine.
He noted that the Palestinian
and French officials would discuss the latest developments regarding the French
proposal to draft a United Nations Security Council resolution setting a
deadline for ending the Israeli occupation and that a series of bilateral
meetings would be held and followed by an extensive ministerial-level meeting.
“We are very glad that we have
agreed with the French side on the version of the final statement (communiqué)
that would be issued following the meeting. We have also agreed with them on
the wording and version of the agreements that are set to be signed,” stated
al-Malki.
This came following media
reports indicating that Palestinian and French government officials are set to
discuss ways of breaking the impasse in the peace process.
Last Monday,
the Palestinian daily al-Quds reported on diplomatic
circles considering the meeting as a ‘prelude’ or ‘first move’ toward a French
recognition of the Palestinian state.
Times of Israel also
reported that talks would “focus on agreeing terms acceptable to the
Palestinians for reopening talks with Israel”, and that the French “proposal
would then be submitted to the United Nations Security Council.”
The meeting came three days after
Premier Rami Hamdallah and French Economy MinisterEmmanuel Macron opened the
first phase of Bethlehem Multidisciplinary Industrial Park (BMIP) in the
southern outskirts of Bethlehem.
Palestinian diplomats are
gearing up for a significant step to increasing international recognition of Palestine
in the coming weeks, while also taking advantage of the upcoming UN General
Assembly that takes place mid-September.
UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon has invited Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to participate in a meeting
this month of the Middle East Quartet seeking a diplomatic solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is worth noting that the
foreign ministers of the three Arab countries will join their counterparts from
Russia, the United States and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini for
the talks on 30 September.
K.F/M.H
