Brussels, 23/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Brussels on 23 October, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called on the EU to apply its guidelines on Israel as planned. “We accord the utmost importance to applying these guidelines to the settlements. They should be in force from 1 January 2014”, he said after a meeting with President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. Abbas also “invited” European companies working in the settlements to put an end to their activities “because they contravene international law”. “This invitation must not be taken as an invitation against the state of Israel. We want to live side by side and to build the bridge of peace but it must rather be taken against the settlements”, Abbas pointed out.
With regard to the Middle East peace process, Abbas stated that “we cannot afford the luxury of failing because that would have serious consequences on peace and stability in our region”. He added that “despite all the obstacles we have met (…), we remain involved and will respect the timetable of nine months”. In Van Rompuy's view, due to the situation in the region - with the conflict in Syria - progress is “more urgent than ever”. He reiterated that the EU fully supports the negotiations and is ready to help implement the decision when it is taken. Van Rompuy reiterated the EU's support for the Palestinian Authority “as the biggest donor of funds and a key partner in its efforts of strengthening the institutions and state” (our translation throughout). Abbas welcomed the economic and political support, including the condemnation of the settlements.
Abbas is meeting High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on Thursday 24 October. (CG/transl.fl)