Jerusalem, 28/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - European Commission President Romano Prodi, currently on an official visit to Israel, issued a message as he visited the Yad Vashem memorial. He stated that Europe wants a "Union of peace, of liberty, of respect for rights and identities, of security, for all and everyone, whatever their origin, the colour of their skin, or their religion. These are the values Europe is committed to guarantee and defend. These are the values I am personally committed to guarantee and defend."
Further, in meetings during this first official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, President Prodi discussed financial problems and the peace process with Israeli Finance Minister Avraham Shohat and Bank of Israel Governor David Klein. He also reviewed on Monday, with Israel's Minister for Regional Cooperation Shimon Peres, cooperation between the EU and Israel in the framework of the bilateral agreement and with the rest of the region in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean process. He was due to meet Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Monday evening.