Brussels, 04/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Foreign Minister, began a tour of Europe on Sunday 3 May starting in Rome. By Thursday, he will have been to Paris, Prague and Berlin. No contact with the European institutions (Javier Solana or the European Commission) is formally scheduled, it is said in Brussels. Mr Lieberman is not expected in the Belgian capital. However, according to Cristina Gallach, Javier Solana's spokeswoman, it is not to be ruled out that Mr Solana may, when in Prague on Wednesday and if schedules coincide, have an off the cuff meeting with the Israeli foreign minister whom he has not yet met since the latter took over his post.
Mr Lieberman's tour comes at a time when there is considerable pressure being put on Israel for the new government under Bejamin Netanyahou to respect commitments taken by the previous governments and to comply with commitments taken towards the international community as part of the peace process. Within the EU, not everyone is of the same opinion. The Czech presidency-in-office is not in favour of such pressure, but is said to be contemplating postponing the EU-Israel Association Council, which is to be held on 18 May, until June, in order to give the new Israeli government one month before it announces its formal options. According to a senior official of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who deplored the “negative noises” heard in Europe, “Minister Lieberman will ask his European discussion partners to give Israel time until the government discloses the broad lines of its diplomatic plan”. Benjamin Netanyahou is expected to sketch out the plan during his meeting in Washington mid-May with US President Barack Obama.
The secretary general at the Elysée, Claude Guéant, said on Sunday that it would be “desirable if Avigdor Lieberman were to rally to the decisions taken by the international community - the very least one can ask of him”. He considered a meeting with President Sarkozy possible but not certain at this stage. And, if a meeting with Mr Solana proves possible, the High Representative will recall, as Ms Gallach points out, the EU's requirement that principles be respected as approved by the international community and any change on the ground rejected if this has an effect on the continuation of dialogue for negotiating peace. (F.B./transl.jl)