Monday 19 July 2010

Ashton in Gaza, calls for opening all crossings

[ 18/07/2010 - 09:04 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday through the northern Erez (Beit Hanun) crossing on her second visit to the besieged coastal enclave in three months.

Ahston started her tour with a visit to a medicine factory financed by the European Union then inspected other areas in Jabalia and Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.

She is expected to visit an UNRWA-run school where she is scheduled to address a press conference.

The EU official said in a press release posted on the EU official website that she would be visiting Gaza to inspect humanitarian conditions on the ground and meet with UNRWA officials.

Ashton said that she would take part in launching a program for developing and reinvigorating the public sector in Gaza with EU financing and in cooperation with the Ramallah authority.

She stressed that Israel should apply a comprehensive policy that would improve the life of Gaza inhabitants and meet their humanitarian needs.

She championed full opening of all crossings to facilitate entry of aid and to revitalize the economy.

Bardawil hopes Ashton's visit would herald end of siege

[ 18/07/2010 - 07:40 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Dr. Salah Al-Bardawil, one of the Hamas leaders, welcomed on Sunday the visit to Gaza Strip of Catherine Ashton, the European Union's high representatives for foreign affairs.

He described the visit, in a press release, as "good" as long as it was followed by practical steps.

Bardawil hoped that the visit would herald an end to the political and economic blockade imposed on the Strip.

The Hamas leader, meanwhile, said that the western world should understand that Gaza is part and parcel of Palestine and that "we do not accept any solution that would isolate Gaza from the outside world".

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