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Ref: 11/2007
Date: 07 March 2007
Sourani Meets with the UN Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
On Wednesday, 7 March 2007, Gaza Mr. Raji
Sourani, Director of PCHR, met at PCHRs office in Gaza City with Mr. Al
Varo De Soto, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General to the Palestinian
National Authority (PNA), and Mr. Robert Dan, Officer of Middle East
Political Affairs.
Mr. Sourani welcomed Mr. De Soto and thanked him
for maintaining contacts with civil society groups and human rights
organizations. During the meeting, Mr. Sourani stressed that the past 6
months have been the worst since the begging of the Israeli occupation, as
IOF have escalated human rights violations in an unprecedented manner since
25 June 2006. These violations have included willful and extra-judicial
killing; incursions into Palestinian communities; destructions of houses,
agricultural land and civilian infrastructure; and closure of border
crossings as a means of economic stranglehold. Mr. Sourani also emphasized
the need for providing international protection for the Palestinian people
within the 4 June 2067 border in accordance with the Fourth Geneva
Convention, especially as a strong international protection force was
deployed at the Lebanese border in response to Israels demands.
Mr. Sourani also talked about the regrettable
internal clashes, stressing that all civil society groups and human rights
organizations support the Mecca Agreement between Hamas and Fatah movements.
He further expressed his confidence that a new Palestinian government would
be formed very soon, and considered that dialogue not fighting is the only
way to solve political differences.
Mr. Sourani further expressed his concern over
the role played by EU observers at Rafah International Crossing Point, as
they do not ensure free travel for Palestinians through the crossing point.
He asserted that the crossing point was closed for 9 months in only one
year, which has marked the worst period with regard to the freedom of
movement since the beginning of the Israeli occupation.
In the end, Mr. Sourani talked about the role of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her visit to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Jaber
Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, and Mr. Bassem al-Khaldi, Acting Director
of United Nations Special Coordinator Office.
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