Martin urges EU to support Palestine

THE European Union should enhance its relations with the Palestinian Authority and increase support for Palestinian statehood, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin will tell his fellow EU Foreign Ministers today.

A revised EU action strategy for peace in the Middle East will be considered by the Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Brussels today which will also consider a letter signed by Mr Martin and his Cypriot colleague, Markos Kyprianou.

In their letter they call for structured and regular dialogue with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).

They say an ad hoc group should be established to come up with ways to support Palestinian Statehood and upgrade relations with the PA.

They say work towards a viable two State solution needs to be stepped up ahead of the February elections in Israel.

They also welcome that the Obama administration in the US has identified cooperation with the EU on the Middle East peace process as a key priority.