Cyprus MEP to head delegation for Palestinians

Cypriot member of the European Parliament Kyriakos Triantafyllides of AKEL has been elected Chairman of the Delegation of the European Parliament for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council.

His term in office will be until June 2009, when European Parliament elections will take place.

DISY’s MEP and former Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, heads a similar committee for European Parliament representation in the peace efforts in Morocco and the north-western Africa region.

Triantafyllides will head the EP delegation that will travel to the Palestinian Territories and Israel at the beginning of May.

Speaking during Tuesday’s session in Brussels, Triantafyllides welcomed the set up of a new Palestinian government of national unity, underlining that it is a product of difficult negotiations, which started with the Agreement of Mecca on February 8, 2007 and asked the EU to proceed with its ratification.

He called upon the German Presidency of the EU to take immediate measures with a view to begin the allocation of help towards the legal Palestinian government without an intercessor.

The necessary actions must be taken so that financial aid of the EU is channelled directly to the Palestinian people and is not withheld by banks.

He urged the Israeli government to begin talks with the Palestinian administration with a view to normalize relations.

Triantafyllides said that the Israeli government must deliver all the income of Palestinians from taxes and duties which it withholds.