Norway defends its Palestinian ties to US's Rice

OSLO, Apr 26 (Reuters) Norway told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today that its recognition of the Palestinian unity government was designed to help diplomacy in the West Asia.

Last month Norway became the first Western state to recognise the Islamist Hamas-led Palestinian government -- prompting US and Israeli criticism -- and said it would restore direct budget aid to it as soon as international banking sanctions were relaxed.

The United States and Israel say the Palestinian government must first recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and adhere to the principles set by the Quartet of peace mediators -- the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.

''Norway has normalised relations with the government, which means that we talk to them,'' Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference with Rice.

''Norway will not be issuing carte blanche in any direction.

We will be trying to pursue policies which draw in the right direction and which can also open (the way) for negotiations, and we also place very clear expectations on Israel.'' ''The Quartet's principles are Norway's principles,'' Stoere said and added that Israel also had obligations to fulfil under previous agreements, which he said the Quartet also recognised.

He said Norway, which has said it expects its total aid to the Palestinian territory this year to reach about 100 million dollars including direct budget support and other aid, had not been able to resume payments yet but hoped to do so soon.

Rice, on a 24-hour visit to the Norwegian capital during which she will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, refrained from criticising Norway and praised Stoere's efforts.

''We are in agreement that a Palestinian government that fully recognises the Quartet principles would be a very good step forward, and I know the minister has worked very hard in the contacts that he has had to try to push forward towards that goal,'' she said.

Rice reiterated Washington's policy was to have contact on a case-by-case basis with Palestinian ministers committed to the Quartet principles, and she pointed to her meeting last week with Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad.

Stoere said that ''about 50 per cent or more'' of aid to the Palestinian territory is going through humanitarian channels, but Norway's position is that it should give aid through normal channels, through the Palestinian finance ministry.

REUTERS JS RK1901