Solana played ‘key role’ in talks to end Israeli siege of Arafat HQ

Date: 02/05/02

EU HIGH Representative Javier Solana played a key role in this week's international agreement that broke the deadlock over Israel's siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters.

The siege ended late last night (1 May) when US and UK officials took away six Palestinians.

Four of the group were last week convicted by a Palestinian military court of killing Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.

A fifth man was the group's leader and the sixth an official linked to an arms deal.

All six were taken to a prison in Jericho.

After the siege of Arafat's Mukata compound was lifted, the Palestinian chief emerged from his bunker to denounce Israel as 'terrorists'.

Despite Arafat's ire, it was the diplomatic efforts of the last few days that paved the way for Israel to pull back its forces last night.

Solana's spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach, said he was 'very much involved' in talks leading to the international custody agreement.

She confirmed Solana had been in discussions with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Tony Blair's Middle East advisor Lord Levy.

'He is very pleased that a final mechanism has been agreed,' she said.

Solana is due to attend the EU-US summit in Washington today (2 May), where he will also meet the other members of the Middle East 'quartet' - Powell, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

EU High Representative Javier Solana played a key role in the international agreement that broke the deadlock over Israel's siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters, which ended on 1 May 2002.