Hon Phil Goff Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
10 January 2005
Goff welcomes successful Palestinian election
Foreign Minister Phil Goff today welcomed the successful completion of the Palestinian Authority's Presidential election
but warned the election was only one step towards a lasting resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict.
Palestinian Liberation Organisation Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) has claimed victory and exit polls
suggest that he is a clear winner of the election, which attracted a high turnout despite being boycotted by militant
groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Final results in the election, held to find a successor to former chairman Yasser Arafat who died last November, will be
known late today or early tomorrow.
"The election represents a crucial democratic decision by the Palestinian people, and a promising new opportunity for
peace if all parties grasp the opportunity and make it work," Mr Goff said.
"However it would be a grave mistake for anyone, whether Palestinian or Israeli or part of the wider international
community, to expect peace to be an automatic result of this election.
"There is an urgent need to revive and complete the Road Map, involving direct dialogue and progressive action by Israel
and the Palestinians, with the support of the international community led by the quartet of the United Nations, the
United States, the European Union, and Russia.
"The road ahead is a difficult one and can only be covered if both parties are serious about peace and have the
appropriate backing from the international community. New Zealand will continue to do what it can to support those
efforts.
"Mr Abbas is known to favour dialogue over armed confrontation with Israel and is regarded as one of the architects of
the Oslo Peace Accords. Although critical of Israel during the election campaign, he has also said he would push for
peace negotiations with Israel as soon as the new Palestinian Cabinet was appointed," Mr Goff said.
Mr Abbas, 69, co-founded the PLO's main political grouping Fatah, and was Palestinian Prime Minister for four months
from May 2003. Mr Goff held discussions with him in Ramallah at that time. Mr Abbas resigned after an unsuccessful
effort to take over control of the Palestinian security forces.
ENDS