Moratinos: European Union intends to play its full role in peace process
Regional-Egypt-European Union, Politics, 6/2/1999

European Union Middle East peace process envoy Miguel Moratinos said after his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa in Cairo yesterday that, "The European Union plans to shoulder responsibilities" in order to push forward the peace process, and he expressed his hope that Israel will move in the direction of pushing forward the peace process and that the new Israeli prime minister will follow the line of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Asked about the " red Lines" drawn by Barak in his election campaign, Moratinos said: " What is important is what the negotiations process could come to and what it can lead to rather than statements that precede the resumption of negotiations."

Moratinos continued that caution was needed until the new government in Israel took shape and its political programme announced. He said Israel's building of Jewish settlements should stop because they could potentially spoil the chance of resuming the Middle East peace process.

Regarding European Union's current strategy for pushing forward the peace process, he said, "Berlin's statement is considered a historical one and expresses the commitment of the European Union to push forward the peace process."

"The statement lent the Palestinian Authority (PA) such political credibility that made the decision to defer the state declaration much easier to take," he said.

He said, "The EU is ready to remove any obstacles that impede the realization of peace in the Middle East."

Moratinos said it is important to stop the Israeli settlement policy to create a political climate for resuming the peace process.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanon refuses to send the army to Jezzine   (6/1/1999)
  King Abdullah of Jordan arrives in Algeria   (6/1/1999)
  Egypt: Five fold summit will not convene before forming the Israeli government   (5/31/1999)
  Moussa meets with al-Assad, al-Sharaa in Syria   (5/29/1999)
  Jordanian efforts for the five-member Arab summit   (5/28/1999)

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