Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 February 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 February 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the effect of the election of a new Palestinian leader on his Department's policy on Israel and Palestine.

Answer: Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of the election of a new Palestinian leader on his Department's policy on Israel and Palestine. [210587] Mr. Rammell: We welcome the success of the recent Palestinian presidential elections, and congratulate President Abu Mazen. Our policy, as made clear during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to Washington on 11-12 November 2004, has been: to support Palestinian presidential elections; to help the Palestinians improve their infrastructure; to support Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan and to help both parties implement the Roadmap, to achieve a two-state solution and a comprehensive and just settlement. We hope that President Abu Mazen's victory with a strong majority will provide an opportunity to move the Middle East Peace Process forward.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 210587; 430 c864-5W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Elections Palestinian Authority Israel Palestine Middle East Peace negotiations Abbas, Mahmoud
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk