RAMALLAH, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos on Monday urged for free and fair Palestinian legislative elections due on Jan. 25.

    Moratinos made the call at a joint news conference held in the West Bank of Ramallah after a meeting with Palestinian counterpart Nasser al-Qedwa.

    Moratinos also said that the Palestinians would prove again to the international community that they are able to conduct free and fair elections, praising the Palestinian presidential elections held in early 2005.

    The top Spanish diplomat said that he and Qedwa discussed preparations for the January elections, the polls in East Jerusalem and the role of the international monitors including the EU in the coming ballot.

    "It is an important time for the Middle East peace process. I talked with Dr. Qedwa about the issues of common concerns, the future peace hopes and the possibility to open negotiations of final status issues," Moratinos added.

    When asked about how the European Union will react if theIslamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) wins in the elections, he said,"We will wait and then evaluate the election results before we adopt a stance."

    He also said, "We respect the Palestinians' democratic choice and we don't object to the participation of any power in the democratic process, but the power has to be committed to the Palestinian (National) Authority's policies.""Hamas is included in the EU list of terrorism organizations,but we have to respect the Palestinian democracy and the Palestinian people's choices," he stressed.

    Moratinos, who had been an EU envoy to the Middle East for seven years, is currently on a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

    Palestinians will vote in their second parliamentary electionson Jan. 25.

    Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, is widely expected to dowell in the coming ballot. It is deemed a terror group by Israel,the U.S. and the EU. Enditem