LOC16:39
13:39 GMT
EU CONDEMNS ISRAELI TOURISM MINISTER ASSASSINATION
BRUSSELS, OCT 17 (KUNA) -- THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) STRONGLY CONDEMNED
WEDNESDAY THE ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI TOURISM MINISTER REHAVAM ZEEVI IN ONE
OF OCCUPIED JERUSALEM HOTELS.
EU COMMISSIONER FOR FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY, JAVIER SOLANA, SAID IN A
STATEMENT HERE TODAY THAT THE EU STRONGLY DENOUNCES THE ASSASSINATION CALLING
TO HAND OVER THOSE WHO DID IT TO JUSTICE.
SOLANA EXPRESSED ON BEHALF OF THE EU MEMBER STATES HIS DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND
CONDOLENCES TO ZEEVI'S FAMILY, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER ARIEL SHARON.
EU COMMISSIONER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CHRIS PATIN, EXPRESSED IN A SIMILAR
STATEMENT TODAY HIS DEEPEST SORROWS FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF ZEEVI.
HE SAID THAT THOSE WHO COMMITTED THE ASSASSINATION ARE AIMING TO DESTROY
PEACE EFFORTS TO ENTER A NEW STAGE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.
BELGIUM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY HEADING THE EU, ALSO DENOUNCED THE
ASSASSINATION OF THE ISRAELI TOURISM MINISTER, WHICH JEOPARDIZED RECENT
PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI EFFORTS TO ESTABLISHED PEACE IN THE MIDEAST.
THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE (PFLP) ANNOUNCED IN
BEIRUT TODAY ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF THE ISRAELI OFFICIAL,
THAT CAME IN RESPONSE TO THE ASSASSINATION OF PFLP LEADER ABU ALI MUSTAFA BY
THE ISRAELI FORCES LAST AUGUST.
THE BELGIUM PRESS SAID LATELY THAT SOME EXTREMIST MEMBERS IN SHARON'S
GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR KICKING OUT PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN
YASSER ARAFAT AND OFFICIALS FROM THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. (END)
NM.FI
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