British ambassador in Damascus: Israeli settlements are illegal, illegitimate

The British ambassador in Damascus, Basil Eastwood, stated that any plan for establishing peace in the Middle East cannot be complete if the Syrian and Lebanese tracks are bypassed. He also said that Israel must stop all activities of settlement building in the occupied Arab lands.

In a news conference he held on Tuesday to talk about Robin Cook's visit to Damascus today, Eastwood said that Britain and Europe are doing their best to push the peace process forward through calling for a commitment to the agreements previously signed between parties concerned. He also said official talks will be held between the EU and the US administration in Washington on Friday to push the peace process forward.

Replying a question on Israel's non-commitment to UN resolutions, Eastwood said Israel has to stop all settlement-building activities in occupied Arab territories, adding that Israeli settlements built on the occupied Arab lands are illegal and illegitimate.

He stated in reply to a question on Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, that his country welcomes the withdrawal in accordance with international resolutions, especially UN resolution 425, which provides for Israel's unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon.