Taken Question Sean McCormack, Spokesman Washington, DC March 20, 2007
Palestinians: U.S. Diplomat Meets with Finance Minister (Taken Question)Question: Please provide a read-out of the meeting between Jacob Walles, the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem, and Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah. Was this an official meeting with him as a minister of the National Unity Government? Did they discuss aid payments?
Answer: U.S. Consul General Jacob Walles met with Mr. Fayyad today as part of an ongoing dialogue on a variety of issues. Mr. Fayyad is a long-standing contact of the USG, and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and an official of the PLO, in addition to his position as Minister of Finance. As we have indicated, the U.S. will not suspend contact with individual Palestinians solely on the ground that they hold office in the unity government, and that we will make individual decisions based on our evaluation of the situation.
2007/211
Released on March 20, 2007
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