Global Arab Network | EU Representative stresses urgency of peace in speech to Arab League

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EU Representative stresses urgency of peace in speech to Arab League

Monday, 15 March 2010 18:58

Middle East peace talks are “urgent”, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has told the Arab League in Cairo at the start of a visit to the region.

“These talks are urgent,” she said. “Urgent because I fear for the future. Urgent, because Israel has a popular Prime Minister who owes it to his people to move to the [two-state] solution he supports. Urgent, because the Palestinians… are willing to engage.”

The visit comes at a time of increased tensions over Israeli settlements. The Middle East Quartet (UN, EU, Russia and US) on Friday issued a statement condemning Israel’s decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. “The Quartet re-affirms that unilateral actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”

Israel’s decision “endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks,” Ashton said in Cairo. “The EU position on settlements is clear. Settlements are illegal, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible.”

She said “the possibility now before us of proximity talks could be the beginning of a new opportunity to find a solution. But we have to be clear: talks not for the sake of talks. We want results and genuine commitment, not a restating of well-known positions. We need a process that leads to outcomes.”

The High Representative also said she would visit the Gaza Strip: “I will travel to Gaza myself to meet with the population and at the same time assess how our support is working on the ground.”

Catherine Ashton will stay in the region until Thursday, 18 March, visiting Cairo, Damascus, Beirut, Amman, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Gaza, before going on to Moscow on Friday for a meeting of the Quartet.

“We know that active and impartial mediation will be essential. I believe that US efforts will be reinforced by support from Quartet partners and the Arab League’s Follow-up Committee, and that we can help the process move forward. We need momentum if we are to succeed.”

Global Arab Network

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