Brussels, 10/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the meeting in Brussels on Monday between the European Foreign Ministers and the Palestinian Minister for Cooperation, Nabil Chaath, on one hand, and the Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, on the other, the CFSP High Representative, Javier Solana, began a further visit to the Middle East on Monday evening. While there, he is to meet Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat, on Tuesday, as well as other representatives of the Palestinian Authority and of the Israeli government. Javier Solana is to present a report on this latest visit at the Laeken Council. "The aim is to contribute to immediate resumption of negotiations without discussions prior to the talks, in concert with the United States, Russia and the United States", the Council states in the concluding text.
In its conclusions adopted following the meeting with Israeli and Palestinian Ministers, the Council clearly specifies the undertakings expected from the two parties: by the Palestinian Authority: the dismantling of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist networks, including the arrest and prosecution of all suspects; a public appeal in Arabic proclaiming an end to the armed intifada and by the Israeli government: the withdrawal of military forces and the ending of extra-legal executions; the lifting of the shield and all restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people; freezing settlements. The French Minister, Hubert Védrine underlined, before the press, the balance of this position, since at first certain Member States only wanted to include in the statements the demands sent to the Palestinian Authority
During a press conference, Nabile Chaath underlined the difficulties for the Palestinian Authority in imposing discipline among its people, while the Israeli bombing, blockades and assassinations continue. Without making a commitment over the call for an end to the Intifada, he made a distinction between "legitimate defence" in a situation of occupation and acts of violence against civilians. In this direction only, we condemn the tactic used by Hamas and Jihad, he said. The Palestinian Authority will do its utmost to support the cease fire. It is our responsibility, he indicated, while putting forward the contradictions of Israel which calls for maintaining the cease-fire and bombs Palestinian police offices.
Shimon Peres also made a distinction, in the opposite direction, between a guerrilla in a situation of self-defence, and the suicide attacks that indiscriminately kill men, women and children. He welcomes the fact that, in the name of peace, for the first time the EU called on the Palestinian Authority to exclude the Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Recalling that he did not agree with the position of his government, which denied Arafat's role as a spokesperson, he asserted that Israel does not want to kill a political leader, nor have revenge, but ensure that the assassination of women and children ends. We say to the Palestinian Authority: if you can control Hamas and Jihad, do so. If you cannot do it then we will, but this is not our preference, he continued, while adding that the Palestinian Authority could re-establish order as it did in 1996. While Nabile Chaath once more called for the presence of international observers on the ground, Shimon Peres repeated that if we do not have an agreement, we do not need observers. What we need is an agreement.