EU ministers adopt Danish Middle East plan, Iraq
Regional-European Union, Politics, 9/2/2002

The EU foreign ministers have adopted a Middle East plan on Saturday, in particular aiming at setting up a Palestinian state by the year 2005, on the second day of talks overshadowed by war clouds against Iraq.

The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Moller, whose country assumes the current rotating presidency of the European Union, urged the EU peers to back the "road map" which he will then take to the region on a three- state trip starting today.

In a letter he wrote to his EU counterparts, the foreign minister said "Although the situation on the ground remains extremely difficult, we have over the past weeks been able to register some progress on matters such as security and reform issues." adding that " this will provide a small portion of hope."

In their first day of talks, the EU ministers held in Elsinore, north of Copenhagen, they focused on the enlargement of the EU.

Moller's road map's first stage include negotiations to be held this year's autumn, leading before the Palestinian elections next January to a security agreement allowing the withdrawals of the Israeli forces from the reoccupied Palestinian territories. The second stage of the plan starts after the Palestinian elections in January 2003 and ends by finalization of an agreement on the creation of a Palestinian state with provisional borders by August 2003. The plan's third phase, after August 2003 will involve a final phase of negotiations aiming at the formal creation of a fill Palestinian state "with limited arms" by 2005, according to the Danish presidency document.

Simultaneously peace talks will be launched between Israel, Syria and Lebanon, according to Moller plan.

On the other hand, the Danish foreign minister plans to travel to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel in order to materialize his "Plan road" plan.

Previous Stories:
  Danish peace plan: A Palestinian state by fall of 2005   (8/30/2002)
  Barcelona process in Jeopardy, Arab League chief warns   (8/13/2002)
  Denmark urges Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories   (7/12/2002)
  Moussa receives EU Security Chief   (6/1/2002)
  Moussa embarks on European tour   (6/1/2002)

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