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Follow Us on TwitterDr. Ashrawi meets with the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation 13Jun13 June 13, 2013
Palestine News Network - 12 June 2013
On Thursday 11th June, PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi met with the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson and Consul General Axel Wernhoff, as well as representatives from the Ministry and the Swedish General Consulate in a political briefing. They discussed the latest political developments in Palestine as well as issues of mutual concern with Sweden.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi stressed, “This extreme, hardline, racist Israeli government is persistently in breach of international and humanitarian law with its system of direct control and apartheid that violates Palestinian human rights and confiscates our land and resources. Yet, there have been no serious American or international efforts to curb Israel’s policies of occupation and enslavement.”
“Undoubtedly, we are witnessing the end of the two-state solution and Palestinian institution and nation-building. Thus, it is of the utmost urgency for Europe and members of the international community to undertake bold initiatives and concrete measures to counter Israel’s impunity and hold Israel accountable,” concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
Fadwa and Qassam Barghouti, the wife and son of imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti, also joined the meeting and presented an account on Israeli measures pertaining to the Palestinian prisoners’ situation, the abduction and arrest of Palestinian MPs and women’s issues. They stressed the need to release all Palestinian political prisoners and emphasized that it is more urgent than ever to hold Israel liable for its violations of international and humanitarian law.
Dr. Ashrawi answered questions on Palestinian reconciliation and efforts to approach multinational agencies and organizations. The meeting also stressed popular nonviolent resistance and continued Palestinian-European coordination and cooperation. She thanked the delegation for Sweden’s long-standing support of Palestinian human rights and the upgrading of the Palestinian representative office in Sweden to the status of embassy. Moreover, Dr. Ashrawi expressed her hope that Sweden will recognize the State of Palestine in the near future.
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