Solana: 'We will not let the Palestinians down'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
European foreign policy chief Javier Solana pledged Monday to continue the European Union's financial support of the Palestinians. Solana also promised to talk to Israeli officials to ensure that the main crossings into the Gaza Strip can work more efficiently. Solana said European officials were still working on a mechanism to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas-led government. "The EU continues to be the most important donor to the Palestinians. More money is being given in the year 2006 than 2005," he said at a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "We will not let the Palestinians down." He said officials from the "Quartet" of Mideast peace makers - the US, EU, United Nations and Russia - would discuss the mechanism on Tuesday. An EU spokesman in Brussels said no meeting was planned, but a teleconference was possible.