EU for Middle East just peace

Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jacques Poos, who is also the current chief of the European Commission, has stressed the European Union's support for establishing comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the ground of the land for peace principle.

In statements quoted by the BBC correspondent in Washington, Poos said "If we give up the land for peace principle, a durable and comprehensive peace in the region is not attainable." He added that the EU and the US are working on a joint declaration on the Middle East peace process following meetings US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright held in Paris with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Poos also said the Americans and the Europeans should support the Palestinian economy. Meanwhile, the chairman of the European Commission, Jacques Santir, expressed worry about the economic problems facing the Palestinians. He said the European agreement on cooperation with the Palestinians cannot be implemented because of the obstacles Israel has placed before the agreement.