Minister receives new Delegate-General of Palestine to Ireland
H.E. Mr. Ali Ahmed Halimeh, the new Delegate-General of the Palestinian Authority to Ireland today, July 25 2001, presented his letter of appointment to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D.
Welcoming H.E. Mr. Halimeh's appointment, the Minister looked forward to strengthening the already close ties between the people of Ireland and the Palestinian people.
The Minister and H.E. Mr. Halimeh discussed the situation in the Middle East. The Minister expressed his grave concern at the current violence. He called on all sides to the conflict to exercise restraint and urged the early resumption of security negotiations and political dialogue.
The Minister also discussed his forthcoming visit to the Middle East in September, during which he hopes to visit the Occupied Territories, and hold talks with representatives of the Palestinian Authority.
The Minister said that Ireland and the EU would continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority, with Israel and with the other States in the region in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.
Note for editors: H.E. Mr. Halimeh was previously the Palestinian Representative to Tanzania and Zimbabwe. He succeeds the late Dr. Youssef Allan, as the second Palestinian Delegate-General to Ireland.
