Brussels, 05/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 30 December, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the vote at the United Nations Security Council the same day on the Middle East peace process, underlined “once again the urgency of resuming meaningful negotiations between the parties, and the need for the international community to focus on concrete achievements to reach an agreement that ends all claims and fulfils the aspirations of both parties”.
A draft Palestinian resolution that proposed, among other things, a peace agreement within 12 months and the Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories before the end of 2017, was rejected by eight votes - including that of France, five abstentions (including the UK), and two votes against (including the US). It required nine votes in order to be adopted. After this failure, Palestine requested to sign up to the International Criminal Court.
Mogherini reiterated the EU's call to both parties to resume negotiations “urgently” and to refrain from any action further undermining the viability of the two-state solution. She believed that setting clear parameters for the negotiations was “key for their success”. The parameters should be defined on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the Roadmap and the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, she added.
“The European Union will promote and support now more than ever efforts to achieve a lasting peace based on this two-state vision together with international partners, including in the region”, Mogherini stated. She reiterated “the strategic importance” of the Arab Peace Initiative for all parties and underlined that the EU was committed to help advance the peace process with the countries in the region. (CG)