Brussels, 12/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana met, on 11 July in Brussels, Nabile Shaat, Minister from the Palestinian Authority responsible for International Cooperation, with whom he discussed EU/Palestine relations and the prospects for the peace process. I come with a message from President Arafat whose gist is: "We want Solana back", said Mr Shaat after the meeting. I will try to go to the region as soon as possible asserted Mr Solana.
Furthermore, the Belgian Presidency made, on 10 July, on behalf of the EU, the following declaration: "The EU is extremely concerned by the demolition of Palestinian houses by the Jerusalem municipal authority in the Shufat sector of Jerusalem on 9 July. It calls on the Israeli authorities to put an immediate end to this sort of activity, which can only complicate further the efforts of the international community and the parties themselves to seek a solution to end the crisis through the full implementation of the recommendation set out in the Fact Finding Committee's report (Mitchell report). It urges all the parties to act responsibly and to refrain from any comments or unilateral acts which might be interpreted as a provocation, but instead to work resolutely for calm".