Copenhagen / Paris, 24/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen telephoned Yasser Arafat on Tuesday to ask him to do all he could to have the suicide attacks against Israel cease. Mr. Rasmussen, who was chairing the EU/Asem Summit (see below) told the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority that the latter had to double its efforts so as to contribute in breaking the spiral of violence. At the same time, according to diplomatic sources, he expressed "the EU's deep concern at the reoccupation of Chairman Arafat's headquarters by Israel", adding: "Israel has the right to take appropriate measures to defend itself, but measures now being taken in Ramallah are not the right response (…). The situation must not be used by radicals on both sides". Mr. Rasmussen also said that EU representatives were trying to persuade Israel to grant them access to Yasser Arafat's headquarters.
EU Council President Per Stig Moeller, had a telephone conversation on Monday with the Leader of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat and with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on the deterioration of the situation following the Palestinian suicide attacks and Israeli reprisals. Israel has the right to combat terror, but the tough reaction of its armed forces, "including the reoccupation and bombardment of Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah" will not bring peace to the Israeli and Palestinian people, said the Danish Foreign Minister according to a press release. "Limiting the freedom of movement of the Palestinian leadership is not an effective way to put an end to terrorist acts. Israel has to lift the siege and Arafat must make an effective effort to stop the terror", Mr. Moeller insisted.
In addition, the spokesperson for the Quai d'Orsay said that the EU's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Moratinos was prohibited access on Monday to Yasser Arafat's headquarters, and that France had intervened on several occasions to try to secure an end to the operations of destruction of the Leadership of the Palestinian Authority. These operations have ceased, "but an unacceptable siege" is being maintained, said the spokesperson, stipulating that France was in constant contact with its European partners, "be it Mr. Solana, Mr. Moratinos or the Danish Presidency, to co-ordinate our analyses and actions", and that it had also had contacts with the State Department.