Brussels, 05/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 4 December, the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers endorsed a new statement on the Middle-East after the Palestinian suicide bombs and the Israeli military riposte (see EUROPE of 3 /4 December, p.6 for previous statement). We reproduce the full statement below.
"The Presidency is deeply concerned about the worsening crisis in the Middle East and the risks of further escalation. The Presidency is convinced that the Palestinian issue cannot be resolved in any satisfactory or permanent way through violence. Terrorism must be condemned unreservedly. The Palestinian Authority must convincingly and relentlessly pursue its efforts to stamp out terrorism.
The Presidency is of the opinion that destabilising the Palestinian Authority would not help stop the cycle of violence. On the contrary, the Palestinian Authority should be helped to assume all of its responsibilities under the agreements it has signed.
Only be resuming the political dialogue will be possible to emerge from the current crisis. It is absolutely vital that the parties unconditionally and urgently resume serious, efficient talks on security issues with a view to quickly initiating a political process as well as negotiations on inter alia the timetable and means for creating a Palestinian state."
A Commission spokesperson interviewed by journalists on Wednesday said there was no difference between the European Commission's position and the position of the Belgian Presidency. At a press conference, Romano Prodi spoke about the escalation in violence which filed him with "anxiety" and said he had had contact with both sides and the EU Envoy Mr Moratinos the day before.