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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Gaza cabinet chief: Hamas ready for reconciliation |
| 2010-02-22 |
| [Ma'an] Mohammad Awad, secretary-general of the de facto government's cabinet in Gaza, said on Sunday that Hamas is undertaking great efforts to reach a unity agreement. "We have delivered many clear speeches and messages to many states noting our support for conciliation, because we are convinced that division is affecting the hopes and future of the Palestinian people and threatening their existence," he told Ma'an. "Reconciliation has not progressed, despite meetings that have attempted to move talks forward. The issue is not the ratification itself, but rather what follows it -- we do not want to repeat previous experiences by signing the document as it is and then returning to the starting point." Awad said the Hamas-led government in Gaza had "achieved many accomplishments" under the hardships endured by Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave. "All the government's duties were met, both economic and financial, providing employees with their salaries." The secretary-general cited other accomplishments "especially in the field of security, ending lawlessness," as well as in education, health and employment sectors. "What we have achieved is not on the same level of our ambitions, which we work to achieve." Awad said among the greatest of obstacles in achieving the goals of the Hamas government was the international community's failure to recognize the movement's electoral victory in 2006. "The siege, and its tragic consequences ... the war carried out on Gaza. All of these factors confirm that the government has been working under continued pressure akin to crisis management," he concluded, pointing to ongoing issues, including the fuel and stationary shortfalls. |
| Posted by:Fred |