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Ramallah, 24-01-06: Independent Palestine head, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, met with former US president Jimmy Carter today in Ramallah. Mr. Carter is in Palestine as part of a multinational delegation of observers from the Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute to monitor tomorrow’s parliamentary elections.
The meeting was also attended by the former Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, and former Spanish Foreign Minister, Ana Palacio, who are co-leading the delegation along with Mr. Carter, as well as representatives of the Irish government.
The meeting focused on the importance of tomorrow’s elections for the development of democracy in Palestine. Dr. Barghouthi hailed the elections as the culmination of the democratic revolution currently taking place in Palestine, that began with last year’s presidential and local council elections.
He praised the determination of Palestinians to carry out free, fair and timely elections in the context of ongoing occupation, acute poverty and unemployment, and internal disorder, as a reflection of their deep commitment to building a truly democratic state.
He also focused on the value and importance of Independent Palestine and the Palestinian National Initiative, of which Dr. Barghouthi is General Secretary, as powerful democratic forces balancing the bi-polarisation of Fatah and Hamas.
Dr. Barghouthi stressed the need for international support in fostering the cause of Palestinian political, economic and social development, and in bringing the continuing Israeli occupation to an end.
Mr. Carter pledged his support for the democratic process in Palestine, and vowed to ensure that elections went ahead without interference.
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