13/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 12 January, the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, accompanied by the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, expressed his profound regret at the escalating conflict in Gaza (this was expressed before the debate on Wednesday afternoon, a resolution will be voted for on Thursday). In his opening of the EP plenary in Strasbourg, Pöttering referred to a “sad impression of déjà vu” and deplored the worsening humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza. He affirmed that “reducing security to purely military aspects is a tactic condemned to failure” and said they needed to find a “political solution”, although what the people needed right now was a lasting truce. Mr Pöttering said that “international troops could and should contribute to maintaining the cease-fire” but explained that such an intervention would require a robust mandate. He regretted that the recent Security Council resolution 1860 (adopted last Thursday) was binding in law but had been ignored by both sides. (A.B./transl.rh)