EU reiterates commitment to creation of Palestinian state

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas onsidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann in a statement in Brussels on Thrusday said that in the meeting Ashton "reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the creation of a future sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel." "The EU is determined to help bring an end to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and believes that substantive negotiations aiming at a comprehensive solution are the best way forward," said Mann. "Ending the conflict is a fundamental interest of the EU as well as of the parties themselves and the wider region," stressed the statement. The EU High Representative and President Abbas also discussed Palestinian institution-building and the economic situation of the Palestinian Authority, both of crucial importance for the resolution of the conflict. Ashton repeated her call to all the donors to step in and help the PA to overcome the financial and economic crisis and to continue with the building of state institutions.