Palestinian FM on Shuttle Diplomacy to Break Isolation

"My planned visits to Asian countries build on a tour of several Arab countries to garner financial and political support for the Palestinians," Zahar told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, May23 .

The top diplomat is embarking on a multi-leg Asian tour that will take him to Muslim heavyweights Malaysia and Indonesia as well as UN Security Council permanent member China.

His first stop will be Malaysia to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference on May28 -29.

"In my speech, I will stress the founding principles of NAM on standing against the occupation of other's land by force, supporting national liberation movements and rejecting pressure on countries," Zahar said.

He will also hold get-to-know meetings with foreign ministers of some NAM members.

The US has been pressuring the international community to cut all political contact with the Hamas-led government.

Both the US and the EU, which is the main donor to the Palestinians with 500 million euros a year, have suspended aid to the Palestinian Authority leaving it on the verge of bankruptcy.

World Tour

Zahar confirmed an invitation from China to attend the two-day China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Beijing on May 31 and June1 .

"I will also hold talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing," he told IOL.

Israel has summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday to protest the invitation.

Zahar said his Asian tour also includes stops in Indonesia, Brunei and Iran.

"Afterwards, I will also visit some countries in Africa, Latin America and Arab Maghreb," he added.

The Palestinian foreign minister lauded as "positive and successful" his talks with Arab leaders.

Zahar's Arab tour included Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Qatar.

Cracking

Zahar said the political isolation of his government by the US and Israel was losing steam as some countries began dealing with the Palestinians' democratic choice.

"A case in point is the invitations we have received to attend the NAM meeting and the China-Arab Cooperation Forum," he added.

The top diplomat maintained that European countries do not see eye to eye on Hamas.

"They are realizing that this aid cut policy does not serve their interests in the region.

"That's why they have proposed a mechanism to transfer aid to the Palestinians," he recalled.

The Middle East Quartet on Tuesday, May9 , endorsed a temporary plan to channel aid to the Palestinian people, hard hit by the international aid freeze.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said details of the proposal would hopefully be fleshed out in the coming weeks.

Some European countries have angered Israel by giving visas to Palestinian ministers, which Tel Aviv regarded as formal recognition of the government.

Palestinian Health Minister Basem Naaem arrived earlier this week in Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the59 th session of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Minister of Refugee Affairs Atef Edwane visited Sweden on May 6 to attend a conference on Palestinian refugees before traveling to Norway where he met with Norwegian MPs.

He also held a45 -minute meeting with Kaare Eltervaag, the head of Norwegian Foreign Ministry's Middle Eastern affairs.

http://islamonline.net/English/News/2006-05/23/article03.shtml