President Efthymiou discusses peace process and OSCE participation during visit to Ramallah

RAMALLAH, 14 February 2012 -- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President held a series of meetings in Ramallah Tuesday focused on peace in the Middle East and economic development in the Palestinian Territories.

Efthymiou met with Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki for a full exchange of views on the peace process.  Efthymiou, accompanied by Greek Consular General Sotirios Athanassiou, urged for a resumption of direct negotiations between the sides.

“The Parliamentary Assembly supports a two-state solution, guaranteeing the security of the state of Israel and an independent Palestinian state,” Efthymiou said. “The solution must be just and fair to be viable.”

The meetings took place just days after the Palestinian leadership reached an agreement to appoint an interim government to prepare elections.

“I welcome the Palestinian internal reconciliation and hope that peaceful, democratic elections will be held this year,” he said.

In a wide-ranging discussion of the economic situation, Efthymiou applauded Prime Minister Fayyad for the difficult work he has undertaken to put the Palestinian people on a path towards good economic governance.

In discussing OSCE relations with the Palestinian Authority, Efthymiou said he would seek a practical role in which the Palestinians could interact with the Organization this year.

This is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 320 parliamentarians from 55 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.