BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AP) _ EU LEADERS WERE POISED FRIDAY TO ENDORSE A PLAN TO STEP UP AID PAYMENTS TO CASH-STARVED PALESTINIANS FOCUSING ON HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND UTILITIES SUCH AS HEATING AND SANITATION, WHILE MAINTAINING A FUNDING FREEZE ON THE HAMAS-LED GOVERNMENT. A DRAFT STATEMENT FROM THE EU SUMMIT SAID THE 25-MEMBER BLOC «STANDS READY TO CONTRIBUTE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT TO THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM,» WHICH WOULD CHANNEL AID TO THE PALESTINIANS BUT BYPASS HAMAS. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUOTED THE EU STATEMENT AS SAYING THAT THE PLAN HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED NATIONS, WHO AGREED WITH THE EU IN MAY THAT A MECHANISM HAD TO BE FOUND TO KEEP THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY AFLOAT AFTER MOST INTERNATIONAL AID WAS CUT OFF FOLLOWING HAMAS’ JANUARY ELECTION WIN. «WE HAVE DONE THIS OF COURSE TOGETHER WITH OURPARTNERS,» EU EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSIONER BENITAFERRERO-WALDNER TOLD REPORTERS. «WE HAVE TRIED TO FIND A SOLUTION WITH WHICH EVERYBODY CAN LIVE.» --SPA 16/06/2006 14:22 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/369052