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Calmy-Rey calls for more Middle East dialogue

Calmy-Rey and Abbas want to continue dialogue in the Middle East peace process Keystone

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey says she hopes the creation of the new Palestinian government can help restart the peace process in the Middle East.

She was speaking at a news conference in Geneva on Thursday after an hour of talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Calmy-Rey repeated Bern’s support for the Palestinian National Unity Government, commenting that it was a “significant political step”.

“Switzerland expresses the wish that the existence of this new government be seen as an important step that will lead to a resumption of negotiations between the conflict parties.”

Bern has made clear its willingness to cooperate with a government that based its actions on dialogue, peace and respect for law, as well as honouring its commitments.

Calmy-Rey, who is this year’s Swiss president, also condemned the return to violence in the Israeli-occupied territories.

“Switzerland clearly deplores the resumption of violence these past few days in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.”

Hamas militants have launched dozens of rockets at Israeli targets, causing no serious injuries or damage, but threatening a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since last November.

Path of dialogue

“We invite the conflict parties to pursue the path of dialogue and to abstain from any actions likely to weaken the ceasefire currently in force in Gaza,” she said.

Calmy-Rey and Abbas also discussed the Geneva Accord, which was launched by Switzerland in December 2003.

“It contains the main details of a solution for a final peace settlement,” she said, adding there had been discussion on how the initiative could be integrated into a peace plan put forward by the Arab League.

Abbas, who is on a European tour, told journalists the Geneva Accord had “many good ideas” that could help in the peace process.

He added that he and Calmy-Rey would continue consultations on different issues “because we think there are many important things to be followed up between both sides”.

Exhibition

Earlier in the day, Abbas opened an exhibition in the city devoted to ancient artefacts from Gaza.

He said the exhibition – at Geneva’s Museum of Art and History – was testament to the importance of promoting cultural dialogue “instead of searching for conflicts among civilisations”.

Most of the artefacts belong to the collection of a Palestinian businessman whose construction company unearthed the objects during building work in Gaza.

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The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has a number of priority projects in the occupied territories.

These cover social and economic development, human rights, good governance, the promotion of democracy and the environment.

The total federal commitment in 2006 was SFr24.41 million ($20.22 million). It is expected to be slightly less this year.

The Geneva Accord outlines a plan for the division of Jerusalem and the creation of a Palestinian state.

It also covers the return of Palestinian refugees and the removal of most Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.

The initiative does not have the official backing of either the Israeli government or the Palestinians.

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