Brussels, 07/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - Following a meeting with Mr Arafat, Thursday in Gaza, the EU special envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Angel Moratinos reasserted that the European Union is trying to restore calm to the region. "We are trying to put an end to all forms of violence. We are extremely active and we support all efforts in this direction and we will continue to do so", he announced to the press when explaining that the EU is looking "to eliminate the barrier to the re-establishment of a climate of trust (between Israeli and Palestinians) to enable for the continuation of peace negotiations".
Yasser Arafat welcomed the European diplomatic efforts and the economic support given by the EU to the Palestinians.
Furthermore, the United Kingdom and France joint their efforts to obtain from the United Nations Security Council an agreement of principal on the deployment of 2,000 international observers and thus to escape the deadlock of a Palestinian demand opposed by Israel and the United States.