Brussels, 18/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Middle East Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) mission expected to begin at the start of this week has been cancelled at the formal request of the Greek parliament's presidency. Its president, who is part of the EMPA Bureau, sent his colleagues a letter in this connection in which he expressed his opposition to such a mission if the Israeli vice president of the EMPA Political Committee, Magali Whbee, did not take part (EUROPE 9266). Lebanon is officially not in favour of the presence of her country because it is only receiving members of countries with which it has “normal relations”. The reality is that the visit of an Israeli, in these circumstances, is for the Lebanese government, inconceivable and unjustifiable, while the country is still recovering from the effects of the devastating war last summer. The demand to include the Israeli delegate in the EMPA mission is therefore perceived as an act of provocation, which certain MEPs have admitted privately. Tokia Saïfi (EPP-ED, France) expalined that the president of the Political Committee of the Euromed Assembly, expected to lead the delegation, requested an “extraordinary meeting” of the EMPA bureau “to clarify the situation” and prevent a blockage to the assembly's work.
Israel satisfied with decision to postpone mission
Israel is “satisfied” with the decision to postpone the mission. The decision was clearly taken after the failure of Beirut to agree to the participation of Israeli MP Magali Whbee, vice president of the Assembly's Political Committee. An Israeli diplomatic source in Brussels informed EUROPE that this was “good for the Barcelona Process because it would have been serious if a delegate had not been allowed to participate”, in contravention to the principles of the process. This confirms information according to which the Knesset had threatened to suspend its activities at the EMPA (which brings together, the European Parliament and all elected assemblies in Member States, excluding the British parliament, and those from all partner countries). The same source believed it “positive” that the two European presidents and members of the EMPA Bureau (the president of the Greek parliament and the president of the EP, Josep Borrell) had contributed to getting a postponement. No developments have been cited: an extraordinary meeting is planned for reaching a decision about the matter. Israeli sources indicate that “we will continue to demand that all members of the EMPA, particularly members of the committee bureaus, participate in all activities…We consider that all members of EMPA are welcome” and that they can participate in a similar mission which is planned in Israel and Palestine at a future date. This will undoubtedly be after Ramadan and after a period marking the Jewish New Year, which coincides with the second half of September.