Haniyeh welcomes statements of the French President

Tuesday August 28, 2007 01:42 by Saed Bannoura - MEMC & Agencies

The Prime Minister of the dissolved government in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, welcomed on Monday the statements of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who indicated that he was willing to hold talks with Hamas, the Maan news agency reported..

Ismail Haniyya

In a statement issued by his office, Haniyya said that his government is willing to hold direct talks with France and the European Countries, adding that the deposed government is committed to the agenda laid out by the Mecca unity agreement.

Haniyeh stated that he believes in the importance of maintaining strong and solid relations with international countries in order to achieve peace and security, and to resolve the ongoing conflict by ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

He expressed hopes that Sarkozy and France would have a positive role in solving the conflict in the region and lifting the siege impose on the Palestinian people.

�We are very interested in maintaining strong relations with France�, Haniyeh stated. �We want to strengthen relations between the two peoples in order to achieve security, stability and development in the region.�

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the unity government on June 14 2007, forming an emergency government in its place after Hamas established control over all security centers in the Gaza Strip.

In the aftermath of the dissolution, Hamas indicated that it remained committed to the Unity Government deal, rejected Abbas� decree, and stated that it took control over the strongholds of the Fatah movement, especially Preventive Security centers, in order to end clashes in the Gaza Strip.

gaza strip | international politics | news report saed at imemc dot org

Nicolas Sarkozy