BEIJING, May 2 -- The Palestinian Prime Minister has met in Gaza for talks with a parliament delegation from the European Union. Ismail Haneya and EU delegates have called for the lifting of financial embargoes imposed on the Palestinian government last year.

    Ismail Haneya says the Palestinian government has made active efforts to lift the financial embargo with ministers holding meetings with members from the international community.

    "I consider this visit by the EU parliament not just a symbolic visit, but also a true step forward in efforts to break the siege imposed on the Palestinian government and its people, says Ismail Haneya, Palestinian prime minister.

    The EU delegation leader says he also believes that it's time to end the financial embargo on the Palestinian government.

    "We are of the opinion that this financial embargo should be lifted and that aid should start again, flowing through the ministry of finance of this unity government," says EU Parliamentarian Kyriacos Triantaphyllides.

    Hamas formed a coalition unity government with its rival Fatah party last month in a bid to end internal fighting and ease more than a year of economic embargoes. But tensions between Hamas and Fatah remain high, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The Western ban on direct aid to the Palestinian Authority is also still in place.

    Meanwhile, the Palestinian Finance Minister has said he cannot promise workers more than half their salary. And Salam Fayyad has stressed that the western aid embargo means the government cannot be expected to meet all its obligations.

    He's also said that Israel's restrictions on border movement have worsened an already difficult economic situation.

    (Source: cctv.com)