British envoy to meet Palestinian PM: UK diplomat

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

British envoy to meet Palestinian PM: UK diplomat
Thu Apr 5, 2007 4:23AM EDT

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A British envoy will meet Palestinian Prime Minister
Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Thursday to discuss efforts to free an abducted
journalist, a British diplomat said, despite an EU ban on contacts with the
group.

"This is just to discuss the kidnapping. It doesn't represent a change of
policy," a British diplomat said about talks Consul-General Richard Makepeace
planned with Haniyeh in Gaza on the March 12 abduction of the BBC's Alan
Johnston.

It will be the first such meeting between a representative of the British
government and a Hamas member of the new Palestinian unity government.
The European Union considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL053494320070405

[bemildred]

1. "This is just to discuss the kidnapping. It doesn't represent a change of policy"

Yeah, heaven forfend anyone should consider changing policy. The old one is working so well.