Arab League head urges Europe to renew aid to Palestinians

Speaking to reporters after an hour-long meeting with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, Amr Moussa added that he thought the idea of an international conference on the Middle East conflict -- a proposal made by Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday -- was useful but premature.

"We don't understand the position of the Europeans, who were so swift to halt aid to the Palestinian government," Moussa said.

"The Palestinian people should not have to pay the price for choosing their government."

Moussa said he was hopeful "these positions will be reconsidered."

During their meeting, Chirac told Moussa France was "prepared to find a solution so that European aid to the Palestinians can resume," the French president's spokesman, Jerome Bonnafont, told reporters.

This issue will also be the focus of talks in Paris on Friday morning between Chirac and Abbas, who is visiting several European countries to appeal for the resumption of aid to the Palestinians.

Asked about the proposal by Abbas for an international conference to revive the moribund Middle East peace process, the head of the Arab League said: "At some point it could be useful, but not now."

During a visit to Oslo on Wednesday, Abbas had called for immediate direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians at an international conference mediated by representatives of the international community.

Israel responded coolly to the idea, saying the Hamas-led government stood in the way of any talks.

In a reference to the Israeli government's plans to withdraw from the West Bank and set its own borders without consulting the Palestinians, Moussa said he was opposed to "unilateral measures" and appealed for a return to negotiations based on the principle of land for peace.

He said he and Chirac had also discussed the international crisis over Iran's controversial nuclear programme and the brutal three-year civil war in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Speaking earlier at a "Euro-Arab forum for dialogue," Moussa said the question of nuclear capabilities in the Middle East required a "global approach,.. not just a focus on Iran."

"All countries must respect international laws and rules and accept inspections of their (nuclear) facilities," he stressed.

"A partial solution would undermine the chance of succeeding in the fight to stop nuclear proliferation (in the Middle East)."

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