Finnish delegation arrives in the region

Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen, in her capacity as chairperson of the current rotating presidency of the European Union, arrived in the region on Sunday on a five-day tour to take part in reviving the Middle East peace process.

The minister's advisor said in press statements in Helsinki that the European Union is encouraging all sides to resume peace talks in the region and that it will back the solution that will be reached by sides concerned.

For his part, the chairman of the Middle East and North Africa department at the Finnish Foreign Ministry, who is accompanying the minister, said, "Halonen will debate with the sides she will meet the European position in revitalizing the Middle East peace process."

The Finnish diplomat asserted that the European Union asks for full implementation of the Wye River agreement regardless of the mechanism of such implementation that Israel has to pursue. He indicated that the Finnish president does not intend at the meantime to make mediation for reviving the Middle East peace process.

However, the EU has called on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to reach a solution for the final status of the Palestinian territories within one year.