Press Release - July 22, 2011
The CEPR is honoured to lead a delegation of 13 European parliamentarians from a range of politics groups to Gaza on Friday, July 22, 2011.
Press Release
Brussels/London – July 21, 2011
Prominent European Parliamentarians to visit Gaza
The Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR) is honoured to lead a delegation of 13 European Parliamentarians from a range of political groupings (liberals, greens, socialists) to the Gaza Strip, via Egypt, on Friday, July 22, 2011.
Prominent politicians include the highly-respected Chairman of the British Parliamentary Labour Party, Tony Lloyd, also the leader of the British Delegation to the OSCE. Mr. Lloyd believes that "there is a future for the people of Gaza, a chance of offering long term hope, we've got to the Palestinians get their ordinary life restarted."
The purpose of the CEPR delegation is to take Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), as well as members of national parliaments, to raise awareness about Gaza, including the effects of the Israeli siege, the role Egypt plays at the Rafah crossing, and a gamut of related issues – humanitarian crisis, fishing restrictions, waste water management, etc.
Other political leaders include Baroness Falkenr, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the British Ministry of Justice in the House of Lords; Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuleniene, Member of the European Parliament from Lithuania; and Pauline McNeill, a former Scottish Member of Parliament, who believes that "public opinion is on the side of justice and Palestinians, and it is time the legitimate state of Palestine be fully recognised”.
The CEPR delegation plans to meet UN officials operating in Gaza to understand better their work with refugees and reconstruction; to meet local authorities and women’s groups to appreciate the different political and societal challenges; and to visit the universities to experience the education system, and cultural centers to learn more about Palestinians heritage.”
Dr. Arafat Shoukri, Director of the CEPR, claims that “this is an excellent opportunity for European officials to assess the situation on the ground and to build closer ties with Palestinians. We are thrilled at the prospects of this trip being a success for European and Palestinians alike.”
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Stuart Reigeluth
Communications Officer
+32 (0)2 503 5402
+32 (0)485 432 425
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Ayman Abuawwad
Information Officer
+44 (0)20 7668 8052
+44 (0)753 983 9257
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