European Members of Parliament Meet with Mesha'al in Damascus, Call for Opening Dialog with Hamas

European Members of Parliament call in meeting with Mesha'al for opening dialog with Hamas

[ 15/03/2009 - 08:30 AM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)--

A number of European lawmakers and politicians met Saturday with Khaled Mesha'al, the head of the Hamas political bureau, in Damascus and stressed the need to open dialog directly with Hamas as a democratically-elected Movement in order to end the suffering of the Gaza people.

At a joint news conference held after the meeting, Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan stated on behalf of Mesha'al that this visit is a step in the right direction and must be followed by several steps to correct all the mistakes that were made against the Palestinian people and their cause.

Hamdan underlined that Hamas always sought good relations based on the Palestinian interests and the national project represented in ending the occupation, the return of refugees and the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state.

For her part, former British minister and member of the British labor party Clare Short said that the aim of the visit was to encourage more European lawmakers to talk with Hamas in its capacity as a democratic movement.

Short added that the visit was also intended for finding a formula for a just peace process for the Palestinian people, noting that the visit did not represent the British government, but there could be future dialog with Hamas along the lines of recent contacts between the British government and the Lebanese resistance.

Irish politician Chris Andrews told the news conference that the contacts with Hamas would go on, considering the appointment of George Mitchel as a special envoy to the Middle East as an encouraging sign of close dialog with Hamas and a solution to the Palestinian problem.

For her part, MP Jenny Tong from the British liberal democratic party pointed to a marked increase in support for the Palestinian people especially in the House of Commons and the house of Lords, adding that two major British parties formed new committees called "friends of Palestine."

Spokeswoman for the liberal democratic party Lindsay Barticia hailed Hamas for its clear answers to questions she described as difficult, highlighting the importance of declaring such meetings with Hamas and not holding them in camera as some parties do especially since Hamas is a democratic movement.

Scottish MP Pauline Makelele underlined that the members of the delegation came to listen to Hamas's opinion about different issues in order for them to be able to defend these issues in their countries, pointing to a very large popular support for Palestine in Scotland more than ever.

EU Members of Parliament Meet With Mesha'al in Syria

Sunday March 15, 2009 04:29 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

A number of European parliamentarians met in Syria on Saturday with Khaled Mesha'al, head of the Hamas political bureau, and demanded EU countries to engage in dialog with the movement.

EU deleagtes in Syria - Image By Palestine-Info

The Saturday meeting took place at the office of Mesha'al in Damascus. Scottish and Irish parliamentarians also attended the meeting.

Clair Short, a former UK minister, member of the British Labor Party, said that the visit aims at encouraging EU parliamentarians to hold talks with Hamas.

Short added that the international community must hold talks with the movement and listen to its points of view.

She also said that the visit does not represent the countries of the parliamentarians, and added that this visit is an indication that future talks with Hamas are possible, similar to the recent talks between the UK and Hizbullah party.

Chris Andrew, an Irish politician, said that holding talks with Hamas helps in elevating the suffering of the Palestinian people.

“I came from Ireland, by experience we realized that if you want peace, you have to hold talks with all parties”, Andrew said, “that's why I came here, we have to hold talks with Hamas”.

He also considered the US decision to appoint George Mitchel as the new Middle East envoy as “an encouraging signal towards a nearing dialog with Hamas”, and finding a solution to the Middle East conflict.

Jenny Tong of the Liberal Democratic Party said that there is an increasing support to the Palestinian people in UK politics, especially in the House of Commons, and added that “talks are essential for achieving peace”.

Tong stated that the parliamentarians discussed with Mesha'al the conditions of the Quartet and other important issues.

Spokeswoman of the Liberal Democratic party, Lindsey Patricia, said that the Hamas leadership gave clear responses to “a number of tough questions”, and considered this issue as a positive and encouraging development.

Usama Hamdan, representative of Hamas in Lebanon, said during a press conference with the European Parliamentarians that this is a step in the right direction.

He added that the international community needs to rectify mistakes that harmed the Palestinian people in general, and not only Hamas.

Hamdan added that the legitimacy of the Palestinian people is the legitimacy they elect and not a “legitimacy that is created by foreigners who try enforce their own policies on the Palestinians””.

He also said that Hamas has a clear agenda; ending the occupation, liberating the land, achieving the Right of Return, and establishing a sovereign Palestinian State.

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