EU urged to make contact with Hamas

The European Union should establish contact with Hamas, the proscribed Islamist group, the holder of the EU’s presidency has proposed. Erkki Tuomioja, Finnish foreign minister, told FT Deutschland, August 2006, that the EU would have to make an important shift in policy and be prepared to enter discussions with all “relevant” parties if it were to revive the stricken Middle East peace process.
The interview was in the context of the meeting on 1-2 September 2006, the EU Foreign Ministers held an informal ministerial meeting, Gymnich, in Lappeenranta, Finland. The two-day meeting focused on the situation in the Middle East, Iran and Russia.

Finland: EU Presidency: Press Release, 30.8.06 http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/press_releases/vko35/en_GB/166130/

---