Brussels, 09/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European institutions have welcomed the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, hoping that the ceasefire declaration will be followed by further progress in the peace process (see EUROPE of yesterday, p.5 on the words of European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and MEP Elmar Brok).
Javier Solana, High Representative for the CFSP, said in a communication that the Summit proves “that there is indeed an opportunity for peace and that the parties are determined to seize it in a spirit of understanding and cooperation”. “This opportunity must not be missed”, emphasised Mr Solana, who added: “I strongly encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to pursuer the way of dialogue and negotiation. The EU is committed to accompany the parties in their efforts with the aim of achieving (…) a negotiated two-state solution”. The Commission President José Manuel Barroso also expressed his “sincerest hope” that the Israeli-Palestinian truce would “lead to a definitive end to years of violence” and invited Israelis and Palestinians to pursue this goal “with determination”. Mr Barroso recalled that the Commission is ready to contribute to future steps in the process with “concrete help worth 250 million euros”. The President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell emphasised the “common political will” of Messrs Sharon and Abbas to “put an end to the violence of which their peoples are the main victims (…), exhausted by a permanent climate of insecurity”. Mr Borrell is counting on the determination of Messrs Sharon and Abbas “such that they will not yield in their common efforts if anyone should try to bring down their attempts at peace”. The “return to a normal life in the region” should be supported by the international community, said Mr Borrell, who emphasised that the European Parliament, which was involved from the start in the Palestinian electoral process, is “prepared to contribute to bringing the two peoples closer together, including within the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly”, which is composed of MEPs and partners under the Barcelona process.
At NATO, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer had said before the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit that it was “not unthinkable” that the Alliance could play a role in guaranteeing a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, on the condition that the two parties request it and that the UN gives it the mandate.