Spanish, Palestinian PMs meet in Madrid

MADRID, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad said while meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero that Middle Eastern factions need to come together.

The European Commission said in a release Friday the Palestinian National Authority official met with Zapatero, the current president of the European Union, in Moncloa Palace in Madrid Thursday to discuss the current situation in the Middle East.

Fayad said the European Union needs to take an active role in the Gaza Strip to help bring Palestinian factions together and solve additional problems plaguing the region. In comparison, Fayad lauded the economic growth taking place in the West Bank.

Zapatero said during Thursday's meeting he would use his EU position to promote Palestinian reconciliation.

The European Union said the meeting also resulted in an agreement to focus on resuming talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials during the first half of 2010.

Fayad reportedly received similar political promises from Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish minister for foreign affairs, during a preliminary meeting.