Cook stresses resuming peace talks on all tracks
Regional, International, 3/18/1998

Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook underlined the importance of achieving progress on all Middle East peace tracks to guarantee a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

In an exclusive statement to Syrian News Agency, Cook added that Britain backs all efforts aimed at breaking the deadlock on the Syrian track, and at holding tangible negotiations based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the land for peace formula.

Cook said his current visit to the region aims at discussing regional and bilateral issues with leaders of the region's states. "These discussions will concentrate on the peace process, the situation in Iraq and Britain ties with the countries of the region," he said.

On the priorities of the European Union 's policy in the region under Britain's presidency to the EU, Cook said reviving the Middle East peace process is one of the priorities of the British presidency of the EU. He expressed worry about the continuing stalemate of peace negotiations, stressing that this stalemate threatens the peace process as well as regional stability.

Replying to a question on the deadlock of the peace process since Netanyahu became Israel's Prime Minister, and if there is any European initiative to push the peace process forward, Cook said: "Europe, led by Britain, exerts intensive efforts to reactivate the peace process. The efforts concentrate on the need for commitments of all parties concerned to the signed agreements, Israel 's immediate withdrawal from the Palestinian lands, and on freezing of the Israeli settlements."

In reply to a question on the double-standard policy towards implementing international resolutions, and on the EU role in ending the worry of the peoples of the region, Cook said: "Britain's stand is clear and is based on the parties' concerned commitment to the UN Security Council resolution."

He pointed out that the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations were based on the land for peace principle which constitutes a central element in Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, adding that Britain hopes negotiations will result in establishing just and comprehensive peace.

On the Iraqi crisis with the UN, Cook expressed worry about the spread of weapons of mass destruction. He said, "We continue to urge Israel to join the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, and sign the charter of the biological and chemical weapons."

Cook described ties between Syria and Britain as good, and expressed hopes that these ties are enhanced in different fields.

Previous Stories:
  Diplomatic showdown between Israel and the UK   (3/17/1998)
  Europe to consider the economic stick, Cook said   (3/17/1998)
  Rajoub: Settlers who attack Palestinian areas won't get out alive   (3/16/1998)

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