EU steps up engagement in the Middle East
Palestine-Israel-European Union, Politics, 5/28/2007

As violence escalates in Palestine and Lebanon, the European Union is stepping up its diplomatic initiative in the region to restore calm.

The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering will visit the Middle East as of Sunday following the trip of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana who returned to Brussels from the region on Thursday.

"In view of the persistent conflict and violence in the Middle East, it is my wish that this visit will reaffirm the sense of obligation and political commitment of the European Parliament to peace in the Middle East and to the realization of a comprehensive peace agreement, involving all the countries of the region," said Poettering in a press statement on Friday.

He will visit Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and NRWA projects in the West bank.

"For the European Parliament the only way to achieve a lasting peace is through the principle of a two-state solution and the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace within secure borders," noted the EP president.

Solana visited the Palestinian territories, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt during his four-day visit. In his meetings with leaders from Israel and Palestine, Solana urged them to break the current deadlock and to restart the peace process.

Meanwhile, the EU on Friday decided to extend for a year, until May 2008, the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point between Gaza and Egypt and allocated 7 million euro to cover the expenditure related to the mission over the 12 months.

The EU established the mission in November 2005 in order to contribute to the implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on Movement Access, ensuring the opening of the Rafah Crossing Point, and to build up confidence between the parties.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian minister: no alternative to the national unity   (5/15/2007)
  Voices in Europe grow for end to sanctions on Palestinians   (3/26/2007)
  Livni asks for EU to keep pressure on Hamas   (3/6/2007)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search