Monday, 07/12/09
• 10:00 Merek Topulanek, chair of the ODS party (Liberal Democrats), former Prime Minister of Czech republic
• 11:30 Meeting with Ann Linde, International Secretary, Swedish Social Democratic Party.
• 12:00 Meeting with the Maltese delegation.
• 12:30 meeting with Jan Kohut, Czech Foreign Minister. The Fateh delegation explained the problems facing us as a result of the failure of the Obama initiative, the continuation of settlements building, the continued siege of Gaza and the impossibility of resuming negotiations without settlement freeze and agreed terms of reference. We criticized the Czech position particularly its voting against the Goldstone Report and asked for a new Czech position reflecting the European stand on settlements and the permanent solution. The Czech Foreign minister indicated that their policy is based on neutrality and is motivated by a desire to be involved and influential in both sides but reiterated his support to our demands and promised greater coordination in the near future.
• 13:00 Lunch and meeting with international leaders and heads of delegations
• 15:00 meeting with Martine Shultz, head of socialists parties in the EU parliament.
Dr Shaath gave a briefing about the current situation in Palestine. Mr. Shultz gave a frank analysis of the situation with regards to EU foreign policy in general and the EU parliament in particular. His assessment was that the situation is depressing with the loss of elections by socialist parties all over Europe and the ascendance to power of right wings parties which will affect the ability of socialists groups to influence EU policy with regards to Palestine. He promised that they will keep using every platform to advance Palestinian cause.
• Meeting with Mr. Luis Ayala, the secretary general of the SI. The meeting was positive and productive. He reiterated his full support to Fateh, the PA, and to Dr Shaath. He promised a new program of joint activities for 2010 that we will be agreeing on in the coming few weeks. The proposed program includes support of our political action plan on settlements, violations of human rights, and the main issue of building a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Mr. Ayala promised support for Fateh, and our Commission in a variety of ways:
1. Support for training activities on foreign Relations.
2. Support for international seminars we organize in Palestine.
3. Financial support for my travel to attend Socialist meetings everywhere, and sometimes for my other colleagues.
4. Support for other projects sponsored by Fateh, particularly in Gaza.
• Attending PES evening Reception (20:00-22:00)
Tuesday, 8/12/2009
• 8:00 meeting with the French Delegation (Socialist Party). (Jean Christophe Cambadelis, MP and National Secretary on International Relations and European Issues ; Harlem Desir, MEP and number 2 of the Party ; Jean Marc Germain, office of Martine Aubry ; Maurice Braud, International department of PS and SI ethic committee chairman)
- Discussed the general situation in Palestine and ways to help.
- Agreed on a European parties and MEPs delegation to Palestine in Spring 2010.
• 8:45 Meeting with Rasmussen, PES president
- Dr Shaath briefed the PES president on the situation and requested the PES support in three main areas
1) Support our position to stop all settlement activities in the West Bank including Jerusalem
2) Support our efforts to bring Israel to international accountability and adherence to international law particularly international humanitarian law and the Geneva conventions.
3) Support humanitarian aid for Gaza and arrange for PES visit to Gaza through us.
4) Strengthen PES/Fateh relations and cooperation in all spheres and provide organizational and logistical support.
Mr. Rasmussen agreed to Dr. Shaath analysis and promised to grant Palestine and Fateh high priority in the 2010 program. He proposed a 1) PES delegation visit to Ramallah in February 2009, 2) Fateh/PES workshops in Brussels; and 3) visit by him in August/September. Fateh delegation welcomed the three proposals and Dr Shaath requested that the PES visits include Gaza and be arranged through Fateh. Mr. Rasmussen agreed. In his introductory remarks at the first plenary of day II, Mr. Rasmussen mentioned the meeting with the Fateh Delegation and reiterated his and the PES commitments to support a cease of settlements activities and Palestinian struggle for independence. He welcomed Dr Shaath to the congress and promised stronger partnership with Fateh.
• 10:05 Dr Shaath Speech at the morning plenary
• 11:10 Meeting with the Social Democrats of Slovenia (meeting with dr. Patrick Vlacic, vice president of the party and minister for transport in the Slovenian government) – contact with the international office of Social democrats of Slovenia – inter.secr@socialnidemokrati.si (International officer – Damjana Karlo)
• 11:30 meeting with Raymond Johansen, Secretary General, Norwegian Labour Party (Raymond.Johansen@dna.no, +4724144052, +4724144000). The Fateh delegation gave a briefing on the current situation with regards to Israel’s adverse policies and inter-Palestinian dialogue. Dr Shaath commended the Norwegian role but asked for caution when dealing with the internal Palestinian politics ensuring that they promote and support unity and not encourage further rifts. He demanded that Norway puts more pressure on Israel particularly with regards to settlements expansion and lifting the blockade on Gaza.
• 12:45 Meeting with Serge Stanishev the Bulgarian former Prime Minister. He emphasized the support of Bulgaria as the best friend of Palestine in Eastern Europe. They have lost the government , but they will come back soon. They invited us to Sofia, and promised to come to Ramallah. We need to work on a program of joint action.
• 13:30 meeting with Jiri Baroubek, president of the Czech social democratic party, shadow prime minister expected to become pm soon, and his shadow foreign minister. We talked at length about the political position of the Czech Republic re our problem. They claim that they want to keep good relations with Israel to invest in a possible future role in the peace process. We noted they have a negative image in Palestine and the Arab World that needs to be corrected. Any neutral role in the conflict requires that they stand fast against the Israeli Occupation’s settlement policy, and its violation of international humanitarian law. Their negative role in the Goldstone resolution damaged their image. They agreed and accused the present conservative government of committing a major error. We talked about a program of joint action; financial support, exchange of visits, participation in the election supervision and agreed to continue the discussion in the coming few weeks through the international secretary and the shadow foreign minister.
• 14:40 Meeting with Pualina Lampsa, International Secretary, Greek Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and a representative of the SI presidency and working as an assistant to Papandreou
The Fateh delegation gave a briefing about the situation and future relations with PASOK. Paulina proposed: 1) joint PASOK Fateh activities and exchange of visits to Ramallah and Greece to concretize joint action program; 2) support FIC in designing a new website and provide technical support for it; 3) provide training and seminar facilities; 4) financial support including support FIC travel expenses; 5) support for the PA, 2.5 million Euro by the Greek government to go to the ministry of finance and to be announced during a Papandreou visit to Abu Mazin in Ramallah; 6) early support for the preparations for elections including training and the support of Greek and SI monitors; 7) full support of our political positions. She will be working with Europe desk-Kifah Radaideh.
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