Brussels, 11/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 11 October, the EU repeated its desire to play an important political role in the Middle East peace process despite the controversial comments by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman the previous day. At a dinner in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, 10 October, with his French and Spanish counterparts Bernard Kouchner and Miguel Angel Moratinos, Lieberman told Europe first to sort its own problems in Europe, such as Kosovo, the Caucasus and the division of Cyprus, “before you come to us with complaints”. “Maybe then I will be open to accepting your suggestions,” he told his two European guests, according to the Jerusalem Post. Lieberman is also reported as saying that Europe was “sacrificing Israel”, just like the international community abandoned Czechoslovakia to Hitler in 1938. It is also reported in the Israeli press that, previously, Kouchner had signalled that the creation of a Palestinian state may have to come via the United Nations Security Council if peace negotiations falter.
The Spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton said on Monday 11 October that there was “strong interest” and desire on the part of the EUY to be actively involved in the Middle East peace process. “We are actively involved and we have a strong interest in the current peace process in the Middle East,” she told press. Moratinos put a positive spin on Lieberman's comments: “If we didn't have a role, if we didn't carry any weight, if we didn't have any influence, maybe our friend Lieberman would not have reacted as he did,” he said. (H.B./transl.rt)