Brussels, 02/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana did not meet Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem on Monday, as the latter was forced by illness to cancel all appointments.
The High Representative for CFSP was in Amman on Monday, where he met King Abdallah II and the Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abou Ragheb. The Quartet's road map is the only plan on the table for the Middle East peace process, and we must do all we can for it to succeed, said Mr Solana at the end of these meetings (see also yesterday's EUROPE on his visit to the Middle East, P.2).
In an interview with Tuesday's Corriere della Sera, Mohammad Dahlan, Palestinian Security Minister, when asked about the "Gymnich"-style meeting of the Fifteen in Riva del Garda (see p.5), emphasised that "we have the greatest respect for the EU, which has always been close to the Palestinians". And, indicating that he had no wish to interfere with decisions to be taken by the EU, added: "but I would like to ask Berlusconi (...) to use his friendship with Sharon to push him to deliver on the commitments undertaken with the road map".