Brussels, 09/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Quizzed about the international peace plan Germany will be submitting to the 15 April General Affairs Council in Luxembourg (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.6), a European Commission spokesperson said the plan was very important and the Commission would be examining it very carefully.
Joschka Fischer prepared the document following discussions with the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, his French, German and Russian counterparts and the UN Secretary General. The German newspapers Süddeutsche Zeitung and Tagesspiegel have revealed aspects of the plan - it involves Israel withdrawing from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and as a criterion for the setting up of a Palestinian State for Israel to give up its settlements. Israelis and Palestinians had to recognise each other's right to exist and decide on their borders in the next two years. The international community should provide guarantees, under the command of the US, the EU, Russia and the United Nations.