RAMALLAH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nicolay Mladenov said Wednesday that the return of the Rafah border crossings to the control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is a "landmark development."
In an emailed press statement, Mladenov said "I welcome the full return of the Gaza crossings to the control of the Palestinian Authority. This is a landmark development in the implementation of the intra Palestinian agreement signed in Cairo on Oct. 12."
Mladenov hoped that this step "should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns, and unlock the increased international support for Gaza's reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity."
He affirmed that the UN "will continue to work with the Palestinian leadership, Egypt and the region in support of this process, which is critical for reaching a negotiated two state solution and sustainable peace."
On Wednesday morning, the PNA national unity government was handed over control on all the border crossings, including Rafah crossing with Egypt, Erez and Kerem Shalom (Karm Abu Salem) border crossing points with Israel.
Handing over the crossing points to the Palestinian consensus government is an implementation of an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement reached between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party in Cairo in Oct. 12.
