Brussels, 16/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Back from the UN General Assembly in which and on the fringe of which he had many discussions with politicians from throughout the world, the European Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten spoke to journalists on Friday on developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East (see EUROPE of 14 November, p.4).
Chris Patten welcomed the rapid change in the military situation in Afghanistan, considering that it would considerable facilitate aid getting through to the victims of the conflict. Reaffirming that the transitional administration and government to follow would have to be representative of all the ethnic sections, he stipulated that "there will be no reminders, if the Northern Alliance forgets that". Broaching the issue from a regional point of view, he stressed that his contacts in New York had enabled him to note a broad agreement on the need to grant "post-conflict" aid to Palkistan. Considering that the time had now come for assessing needs on the ground, he nevertheless announced that a working party would meet in Berlin in December to lay down the foundations of a donor conference, involving the EU, the United States, Japan and the World Bank. Regarding the Middle East, Chris Patten recalled the interrupted EU financial effort for the Palestinian Authority intended to "guarantee Israel a valid partner" and to ensure the workings of the municipal and health services in the areas affected by the conflict. He also repeated that, for the Commission, there was no better proposal than the Mitchell Report. "All Mitchell and as quickly as possible will be the Troika message" on its rounds of the region, he hammered home. In addition, he hoped that Israel "will make proposals" on the dispute relating to the rules of origin at the EU/Israeli Association Council on Tuesday. Mr. Patten welcomed the adoption by the Parliament in Skopje of Constitutional amendments that will allow for implementation of the 13 August Agreement. Finally, he confirmed the resumption of the political dialogue with Cuba and the EU's desire to find a solution to the conflict in the region of the Great Lakes, where the Troika is to go next week.