Palermo conference concludes deliberations
Regional, Politics, 6/5/1998

The European Union has asserted that just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East should be based on honest implementation of concerned UN Security Council resolutions and the Madrid conference terms of reference, including the land for peace formula.

In a press conference he held at conclusion of the meeting dedicated to discuss partnership programs between the countries of the European Union and the countries overlooking the Mediterranean, the British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, whose country is presiding over European Union, said the best security for all peoples of the region is through resetting the Middle East peace process into its right track on the principle of land for peace formula.

He added, "We are concerned over not implementing the peace process elements, and we call for its full implementation."

Replying to a question on the French -Egyptian initiative to convene an international conference to salvage the peace process, Cook noted that the initiative does not meet current requirements, adding that efforts should be pooled now on the US initiative on which "have so far passed half of the way."

The conference's final statement noted the linkage between the European, Mediterranean partnership and other initiatives taken to serve peace, stability and development in the region, especially the peace process saying, "These processes should be regarded as complementary." Representing the Arab states, Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz welcomed the conference's final statement and statements made by Cook. He indicated that just and comprehensive peace, the land for peace principle, and restoring stability to the region all reflect Arab demands.

For his part, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said that the conference would mark the revival of the European-Mediterranean partnership among the EU's 15 member states and the other 12 Mediterranean countries. The 27 member states in the European - Mediterranean partnership stressed their commitment to supporting the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East "based on faithful implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles of the Madrid Peace Conference, including the principle of land for peace, which would bring justice and security to the people of the region."

In a statement released following the conclusion of the European-Mediterranean ministerial conference concluded in Palermo, the 27 countries said that talks during the conference reflected the increased European concern which had been expressed in the recent European-Mediterranean meeting held in Valletta in 1997 over obstacles obstructing the peace process.

Cook, who is the chairman of the conference and who read the statement said that Palermo conference was useful and constructive in stressing continued commitment by the two sides to partnership principles and the desire to develop them in a positive and tangible way.

The statement said that individual partnership and association agreements between the European Union and each of the partnership states constitutes an important element in establishing a European - Mediterranean free exchange zone in the year 2010 according to a set schedule laid when the partnership process was launched in Barcelona in 1995. "The creation of an area of shared prosperity, as set out in Barcelona, involves 3 main elements: the establishment of free trade, reforms towards economic transition, and action to encourage private investment," the statement said.

The statement expressed hope that the 27 member states agreed to continue efforts to improve the implementation of the program provided for helping the EU 15-member states and their 12 Mediterranean partners modernize and reform their economics in order to open a free trade zone.

The statement also expressed hope for achieving a breakthrough in the current negotiations with Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Algeria. The two sides agreed that reaching a satisfactory settlement concerning agriculture is very necessary to conclude the negotiations. Concerning debts, the statement noted it had been agreed in Barcelona that negotiations concerning debts will be carried out by relevant establishments rather by partnership committees.

The statement added the partnership states recognized the threats inflicted by terrorism against several objectives of European-Mediterranean cooperation and stressed the need of taking preventive measures, adding that the participants "welcomed the decision to hold a special ad-hoc meeting of Senior Officials, accompanied by relevant experts, as a means of developing a dialogue on this key issue."


Editor's: Here is yesterday's unpiblished report (due technical difficulties) it has more information on some of the discussions that took place:

Some 27 foreign ministers from Europe and states overlooking the Mediterranean on Wednesday started a conference dedicated to the partnership program between Europe and the Mediterranean, which has been stumbled as a result of the deadlock the Middle East peace process has reached. The discussions, which are led by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, concentrate on stability and security in the Mediterranean as well as economic, financial, social and cultural cooperation.

Some 15 European countries belonging to the European Union in addition to Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Israel, Malta and Turkey are taking part in the meetings.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz stressed the importance of security and immigration in his speech. He cited an example in that Israel has prevented the Palestinians from building the port of Gaza, financed by Europe. He added that peace for Arab states is that built on US resolutions 242, 338 and 425 and that the Arab - Israeli conflict is a comprehensive conflict between all the Arabs and Israel rather between a certain Arab state and Israel.

The Israeli foreign ministry's secretary-general, Etian Bin Tsour, described the Hizbullah party as a destructive group. Replying to Bin Tsour's accusation, Boueiz said, "There is a distinction between terrorism and resistance. Israel occupies part of the Lebanese territories and detains hundreds of Lebanese in its detention centers." Boueiz also noted that there is a difference between the actual policy Israel pursues and its information policy, warning against being trapped by the "Israeli media policy."

Syria's Foreign Minister al-Sharaa explained how Israel violated the obligations to which committed itself to under former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, which provide for maintaining withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 border line. Al-Sharaa also explained Israel's continued policy of building settlements with funds from Europe and the US.

The meeting's final statment, issued by Cook, called for Middle East peace "based on faithful implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles of the Madrid Peace Conference, including the principle of land for peace." It added that the participants "agreed that intensified action was required on all three of the negotiating tracks, the Syrian and Lebanese as well as the Palestinian."

Previous Stories:
  Arab FMs conclude Beirut and head to Palermo   (6/3/1998)
  Arab, European Mediterranean ministers discuss terrorism   (5/19/1998)

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