Abbas discusses conditions for peace perspective with EU leaders

BRUSSELS, June 22 (KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a joint meeting Wednesday evening with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on the situation in Palestine.
"Our main point was the discussion on the need to restore conditions for peace perspective between Israel and Palestine," Mogherini told a joint news conference with Abbas after the meeting.
"We in Europe are extremely worried of the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East," she stressed, adding that the EU is very much engaged in coordination with the international community and the regional partners in the framework of the Quartet that is finalising in these days a report.
The report is expected to come out in the next days on substantial recommendations on how to overcome the trends that are making the prospects of a two-state solution fading away, said the EU foreign policy chief.
"We are working closely with our Arab friends especially to see how the Arab peace initiative can be operationalised," she said, warning that the current situation on the ground is "extremely dangerous for all. We want to see settlement expansion stop." On his part, Abbas said views were exchanged on the role and position of the EU on the French initiative to hold an international peace conference by the end of the year.
He added that Israeli settlement expansion and collective punishment of Palestinians is pushing the region to more bloodshed and extremism.
"We are committed in order to free our land and our people and we will of course do our possible in order to bring the national inter-Palestinian reconciliation," he said.
Tomorrow Abbas will address the European Parliament and also meet the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. (end) nk.mb