European, Arab legislators call for support of peace
Regional-European Union, Politics, 7/13/1998

Participants in a Euro - Arab parliamentary dialogue on Monday stressed that the revival of the Middle East peace process required a firm stance to force Israel to abide by the land for peace principle and the terms of the Madrid conference.

This came in the final statement issued here today at the conclusion of the three-day session of the 16th Euro - Arab parliamentary dialogue conference.

Participants said the revival of the deadlocked Middle East peace process also required Israel's commitment to implement all Security Council resolutions and the resumption of negotiations on the Syrian track from the point it reached with the former Israeli government.

The participants voiced their rejection of Israel's latest decision to expand the municipality borders of Jerusalem as violation of international law that would endanger the peace process.

They called for the halt of construction process of Israeli settlements in all occupied territories of Palestine including Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and south Lebanon, Map reported.

The participants, who represented 17 Arab states in addition to European Union member states and representatives of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, also called for settling the refugee problem in accordance with United Nations' resolutions in this respect.

On the economic horizon, the participants called for setting up a Euro - Arab partnership for development to enable Arab states to obtain a greater share of world trade and take effective precautionary measures against the negative impacts of globalization.

The participants called for new Euro - Arab finance mechanisms to step up industrial efforts and encourage the establishment of joint ventures and expansion of inter-Arab trade.

On the economic embargo imposed against some Arab states, the participants stressed the need for the Security Council to reconsider the economic ban on Libya and Sudan.

Participants decided to hold their 17th meeting in Rome next year.

Previous Stories:
  Arab ports, airports, borders chief to meet   (7/11/1998)
  European - Arab parliamentary discussion conference starts today   (7/11/1998)
  Israeli committee to discuss resuming negotiations with Syria   (7/9/1998)

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