Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

125 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU has any active role in the current search for a Middle East solution; if so, if he will outline details of such active involvement; and if not, if he will indicate the way in which such a role can be developed. [2145/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The European Union has constantly played a very active role in supporting efforts to bring about a comprehensive and lasting settlement in the Middle East. In particular, the EU strongly encourages the various initiatives to end the current violence and urges the parties to pursue the path of negotiation and to make the necessary compromises to resolve outstanding problems. The active part taken by High Representative, Javier Solana, and Special Envoy, Miguel Moratinos, in their contacts with all the major participants demonstrates the EU's commitment to assist in mediation efforts to resolve the conflict. The EU Presidency, with Solana and Moratinos, was in continuous contact with the parties over the weekend on possible follow-up to the Taba talks.

The General Affairs Council in Brussels last week expressed its full support for the talks in Taba, urging both sides to continue to strive for an end to violence and to continue their negotiations for an agreement in the framework of UN Security Council resolutions. We hope that the progress made in the talks can be built upon to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

Given the grave economic difficulties faced by the Palestinian Authority, the EU has called on Israel to end immediately the withholding of revenue payments due to the Palestinian Authority and to lift the remaining closures. The EU has also sought to address these difficulties by creating a special cash facility totalling 90 million euros to fund open-ended loans to the Palestinian Authority to bridge these revenue payments withheld by Israel. The EU is the major aid contributor to the Palestinian Authority with a budget of almost 156 million euros for the year 2000.

For an agreement to take hold and to endure, it is essential to rebuild trust. This will not be easy but it is vital for lasting success. We, with our EU partners, have supported the fact-finding commission agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh, on which the EU High Representative, Javier Solana, represents the European Union. We see the commission, which intends to return to the occupied territories on 16 February, as a significant confidence building measure agreed by both sides. In this regard we are concerned that Israel has suspended co-operation with the commission's technical staff, and would urge it to fully re-engage with the work of the commission. The EU Presidency will press the Israeli authorities to co-operate with the commission.

The EU will work closely with the Bush Administration and expects the US to continue the central role played by former President Clinton. It is important that we in the EU and in the wider international community are ready to cement in place any agreement that may emerge from the current negotiations. We hope that, if such an agreement can be reached, it will command the decisive support of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.