Brussels, 11/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 10 March, EU foreign ministers reiterated their support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. “We shall do everything in our power to support the Annapolis process”, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, said after the meeting of the External Relations Council in Brussels. Israel has announced the construction of several hundred new homes in the eastern part of Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinians, but Solana has stated his objection to these settlements being continued. “We deplore” the last declarations made by the Israeli government on this subject, he added.
The question of the Middle East peace process will fuel discussions at the European Council, Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenian Foreign Minister, stressed. The heads of state and government “cannot not speak of the Western Balkans”, added the president-in-office of the EU Council, stating that the summit's agenda on international issues had not yet been finalised. Afghanistan will also be a subject covered at the dinner of foreign ministers during the evening of Thursday 13 March. (A.B.)