Luxembourg, 15/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - "We are all waiting for the results of Mr. Powell's mission, who naturally may count on our full support", declared Josep Pique when presenting, Monday evening, the results of the General Affairs Council that had just raised different initiatives (Mr. Pique cited the contributions of Germany and France) faced with the crisis in the Middle East. "There are sufficient suggestions; it is time to move from speeches to actions to trigger the peace process", he said, placing emphasis on the importance of an international conference the principle of which Mr. Sharon had just agreed to without mentioning possible EU participation. For Mr. Pique, this participation goes without saying. "No sensible person can put into question the Union's participation", said the President of the Council, considering that at the moment the idea of an international conference was taking form, they needed to focus on this aspect and leave any other possible actions "for another time" (he was questioned on the suspension of the EU/Israel association agreement). "The Fifteen, the Secretariat and the Commission consider that what is the most useful is the success of the Powell mission", he said referring to "for lack of an immediate withdrawal, at least a rapid timetable for a withdrawal of Israeli troops". Mr. Pique, who stressed that the "humanitarian situation is unbearable and catastrophic", in the occupied territories, also launched an appeal in favour of media access and that of humanitarian organisations to the Palestinian populations. He explained that the next Euro-Mediterranean meeting of Valencia would allow them to assess the results of the Powell mission, and added: "then, we shall see how to progress".
French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hubert Védrine, declared that there was no sense in taking an initiative just for the pleasure and that they had been asking the USA to re-commit themselves, which was difficult. They had to support Colin Powell, he added. The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that caution had been the watchword, pointing out that he was in favour of urgently arranging an EU/Israel Association Council, which he did not see as a declaration of political war. Joschka Fischer considered that it was better to await the results of the Powell mission and move onto the political stage rather than organise an Association Council. France did not object to the idea of an Association Council and Hubert Védrine was of the opinion that between the countries that were for and those that were against and those that were opposed for the instant, the decision could be reached. The Euro-Mediterranean meeting would, according to Mr Védrine, be a good time for assessing the results of the Powell mission and to establish bilateral EU/Israel discussions. He also said that miracles shouldn't be expected from the mission or criticised for not obtaining extraordinary results. He indicated that a few signs for resuming the process could be expected. He also stressed that for the instant Powell had not achieved anything. Member States have exchanged information on arms sales to Israel and no country appeared to wish to sell arms that could be sold and used against civilians. Joschka Fischer declared to the press that he would like the German document to become that of the EU but other matters were more urgent.
Furthermore, in Geneva, a majority of European Union countries that are members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights voted for a resolution condemning human rights violations by Israel in the occupied territories. The resolution presented by the Arab countries was supported by Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Portugal and Sweden. Germany and the United Kingdom voted against. Italy abstained.