Arafat Administration Only Valid Interlocutor for Israel: Prodi

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Arafat Administration Only Valid Interlocutor for Israel: Prodi

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The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, said Wednesday in Brussels that the PalestinianAuthority under the leadership of its elected leader Yasser Arafatis the only valid interlocutor for Israel.

Announcing his statement at a press conference, Prodi said that confining Arafat would not reduce his influence and power.

He also called for both sides of the deteriorating conflict toimplement the United Nations' Resolution 1402, which calls for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts ofterror, provocation, incitement and destruction.

"The Israeli government must withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities including Ramallah; Tension is increasing in many Middle East countries. Further escalation of the crisis must be avoided at all costs," Prodi said in the statement.

In the meantime, Prodi said that the European Union and its member countries must do everything in their power to encourage peace to resist anti-Semitism at home.

The foreign ministers of the 15 EU member countries will discuss the Middle East situation Wednesday evening and Prodi is expected to attend the ministerial meeting.

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