Downing Street Says » Middle East

» Monday, November 15, 2004

Middle East

Asked if there was going to be a London conference on the Middle East, the PMOS replied that that suggested we expected a conference to come out of Friday’s meeting, which we didn’t. He said not to put horses and carts in the wrong order, and what was important was to get the electoral process on the road in Palestine, and to do everything possible to help it. Only after the elections have taken place can support for the new Palestinian government be worked out.

Asked again if there was any sympathy for the idea of a conference, the PMOS said that things needed to be put in the right order, and not to obsess about the format. A conference could be a means to an end, not an end in itself.

Asked if the British Government had a position on Marwan Barghouti, the PMOS said that again, it was entirely a matter for the Palestinian people who they elected.

Asked again about Marwan Barghouti and his chances for election, the PMOS repeated that the government did not interfere in other people’s jurisdictions.

3 Comments »

"Only after the elections have taken place can support for the new Palestinian government be worked out."

But we are quite willing to sacrifice soldiers and kill civilians to support a completely unelected Iraqi Government.
Comment by Uncarved Block — 15 Nov 2004 on 5:36 pm | Link
No, that’s to support an elected American government, surely?
Comment by Chris Lightfoot — 15 Nov 2004 on 5:59 pm | Link
Does America have an elected Government? I thought they just let the religeous fundamentalists choose a candidate and then rigged the computer voting anywhere there was a danger of him not getting enough ‘votes’.
Comment by Uncarved Block — 15 Nov 2004 on 7:32 pm | Link

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