Qorei demands real US support

2003-09-09 11:38

Abu Dis, West Bank - Ahmed Qorei said on Tuesday that he must have support from Washington for the implementation of the roadmap for peace before accepting the job of Palestinian prime minister.

"What I need is real US support on the real implementation of the roadmap," he said at his home on the outskirts of east Jerusalem.

"These are my conditions still."

Qorei also reiterated demands for Israel to stop targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

"We need the Israelis to stop assassinations and destruction and change things on the ground. I cannot accept if this will not change," he added.

According to the the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, Qorei has appealed to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to stop Israel's policy of assassinating Palestinian activists, lift road blocks in the occupied territories, free Palestinian prisoners, pull its troops out of West Bank towns and lift its siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"The success of the peace process is contingent upon Israel's policies and acts on the ground. If you want me to succeed - help me," said Qorei, in a message sent to Sharon's Jerusalem office.

Qorei had previously demanded guarantees of support from Washington and the European Union before accepting the job.

He met on Tuesday with Gianni Ghisi, the consul general for Italy in Jerusalem. Italy currently holds the presidency of the European Union.

Goodwill

Asked if he had been given positive reaction to his call for EU support, Qorei said: "They (the Europeans) are showing goodwill."

Ghisi said he had "reiterated the total support of the Europeans".

"I wanted to know about Mr Qorei's plan of action... We support the continued reforms, notably with security," he said.

Outgoing prime minister Mahmud Abbas resigned after battling with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for complete control of the Palestinian security apparatus.

Ghisi said "there must be a single army and the roadmap must be revived in order that the quartet can meet as soon as possible."

The roadmap, which is co-sponsored by the United States, European Union and Russia (known as the quartet) aims to create an independent Palestinian state by 2005. The project has been effectively stalled since a suicide bus bomb in Jerusalem three weeks ago led Israel to freeze all contacts with the Palestinians.

On that, Ghisi said: "Our help would consist of an increase in the efforts for the two parties (Israel and the Palestinias) to apply the roadmap."

- AFP