Europe supports a new resolution on Iraq, rejects violation of 1967 borders
Regional-European Union, Politics, 4/17/2004

The foreign ministers of the European Union stressed in the first day of their meeting in Ireland that the federation will not admit any change on the pre 1967 border, unless those approved by the two sides.

This is in reply to the results of the summit held between the US President George W. Bush and the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. They called for Israel's withdrawal from all settlements and that to be part of the "Roadmap." The EU also expressed support for releasing a UN resolution on Iraq before June 30 and called for the UN to play a more "important role."

The Irish foreign minister Brian Queen, whose country presides over the rotating presidency of the EU showed a cautious support for Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza, stressing that under current conditions the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza might constitute an impetus for implementing the roadmap. Queen stressed that " all know that any attempt to solve the conflict unilaterally will not bring in a permanent peace." He renewed the EU cling to the Roadmap in order to solve the Arab- Palestinian conflict, set by the Quartet.

He said " we consider that the Roadmap as set by the Quartet constitutes the base for a permanent, just and peaceful settlement." He warned that the EU will not " recognize any change on the pre- 1967 borders unless approved by the two sides." He stressed that issues pertinent to "the final status like borders, and the refugees are matters that should be negotiated and agreed over between the two sides." He said "a real" and just and fair solution should be found for the Palestinian refugees.

Queen also warned that "any unilateral attempt to settle the conflict will not bring in permanent peace and the two sides should agree on any viable settlement." He added " we have learnt that here in Ireland and we will not escape this fact in the Middle East." Queen admitted that the tension between Israel and the Palestinians and the crisis in Iraq caused not listing the Middle East reform plan in the agenda of the ministerial meeting.

For his part the EU foreign policy commissioner Criss Patten said " if there will be a withdrawal from any settlements, we welcome that matter, but the withdrawal should be from all settlements. This constitutes part of the roadmap."

Meantime, the British foreign office secretary Jack Straw welcomed the " proposals "to withdraw any Israeli settlements from the Palestinian territories but he requested that Sharon's plan will come in the "context" of the roadmap. Moreover, the EU higher foreign policy higher representative Javier Solana said that " all member states in the EU agree on the need of issuing a new decision from the UN security council as soon as possible before June 30 before authority transfer to the Iraqis."

Previous Stories:
  European states reject Bin Laden's call for truce   (4/16/2004)
  Prodi: recent developments will not enhance ME peace   (3/26/2004)
  EU for the success of the forthcoming Arab summit   (3/25/2004)

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