Brussels, 03/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we had announced earlier, the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, is again in the Middle East where, from 2 to 5 September, he plans to pursue the European Union's efforts to seek a "just and lasting peace", to quote a press release. According to the same release, Mr Solana plans to "promote a consolidation of the cease-fire and the resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians", recalling that the recommendations of the Mitchell Report "remain the best way forward to break the current deadlock, stop the escalation and resume a political process". During his visit, Mr Solana is to meet the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr Sharon and Mr Peres, President Arafat as well as, in Amman, King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Al Khatib, and, in Cairo, President Mubarak. The first day of Mr Solana's tour was marked by three bomb attacks, on Monday in Jerusalem.
Over the past weeks, European diplomatic action in favour of rekindling dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians has developed in the Middle East, with, above all: - intervention by EU Special Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos; - the visit in the region by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who had managed to obtain agreement from Mr Sharon and Mr Arafat with a view to a meeting (which was in principle to have been held in Berlin but which has so far been prevented by the continued escalation of violence); - talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero, which could result in an Arafat-Peres meeting in Cernobbio (in Italy) or in the Middle East; - telephone contacts between Javier Solana and President of the EU Council Louis Michel with Mr Arafat and Mr Peres; - and the note addressed by Mr Michel to his American and Russian counterparts, Colin Powell and Igor Ivanov (see EUROPE of 29 August, p.2, and also 31 August, p.2).
European Socialists welcome Israeli-Palestinian declaration calling for an end to violence
Furthermore, the Party of European Socialists (PES) chaired by Robin Cook welcomed a joint declaration by Israeli and Palestinian leaders (including Palestinian Hanan Ashrawi and former Israeli Minister Yossi Beilin) calling on "all people of good will to return to sanity, to re-discover compassion, humanity and critical judgement and to reject the unbearable ease of the descent into fear, hatred and calls for revenge". Speaking at a meeting of the PES presidency in Reggio Emilia, in Italy, Mr Cook gave his assurance that the European Socialists would fully back this initiative. He welcomed the work accomplished in the region by Javier Solana and said: "We are committed to working with the United States to find a way forward. It is important that we work together".