24/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - In a declaration made on 19 August as President of the Council of the EU, the Dutch minister of foreign affairs Bernard Bot expressed his concern at the appeal for tenders launched by the Israeli minister of accommodation for the building of houses in the Israeli occupied territories of West Bank. Mr Bot pointed out that according to the "Road map" by the Quartet for Middle East, any settlements should be frozen and expressed his fear that, "the current relaunching of settlements will not help with the development of a climate of trust necessary for pushing forward the peace process in the Middle East, particularly at a time when greater prospects are appearing".