The Deputy Chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliament and Chairman of the Egyptian-European Council Mohamed Abul Enein said a Mediterranean Parliament delegation would pay a visit to Ramallah and the Gaza Strip on Feb 23 to document all Israeli violations against the Palestinians, especially during the recent aggression on the Gaza Strip, which left some 1,300 martyrs and 5,000 injured. In a press conference yesterday, Abul Enein said: "The delegation will include the speaker and the deputy speaker of the European Parliament, in addition to the speakers of the Jordanian, Italian and Moroccan parliaments and a member of the French one."
He then added that during the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly's meeting in Brussels last week, he introduced Egypt's idea, voiced by the People's Assembly [Egypt's lower chamber of parliament] Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour, of a fact-finding committee investigating into the Israeli 22-day massacres in the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian demand has been approved and, therefore, the delegation will pay the two-day visit.
Abul Enein, head of the People's Assembly Industry Committee, said the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary delegation would also prepare a report on the Israeli practices. That report will be discussed during the meetings of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly due to be held on 15-17 March. The Assembly supports President Mubarak's "wise" policy with regard to the Palestinian Cause, especially during the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, he said.
"The Assembly's members express their appreciation of all the steps taken by President Mubarak in this regard. Egypt's position was clear before the aggression, as President Mubarak has played a major role to reunite the Palestinian factions over the past year."
The Egyptian efforts were about to bear fruit and reach a solution, which is commended by a number of international bodies, including the EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana, he added. Abul Enein criticized the position of international organizations and especially the UN Security Council, as it "delayed" taking decisive action to stop the aggression on Gaza. Members of the Egyptian - European Council see that the inter-Arab reconciliation will undoubtedly lead to the Palestinian reconciliation, he added.
With regard to the reconstruction of Gaza, Abul Enein said: "The Egyptian- European Council will play a major role in this matter, as its members, including a large number of businessmen, are eager to contribute to the Gaza reconstruction." Abul Enein added that he contributed around one million m2 of ceramic to the Gaza reconstruction. "The Council will, of course, partake in the Gaza reconstruction conference due to be held early next month. In addition, it will soon invite European countries' ambassadors serving in Egypt to discuss the preparations for the conference and the steps necessary to support the Gazans," he added.
