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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Middle East Peace Process.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the peace process proposals that have recently emerged from the Geneva talks; the contacts his officials may have had with both sides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30537/03]

The Geneva Accord is to be welcomed. It demonstrates that rational discourse from civil society on both sides is possible. Furthermore, the initiative proposes a solution to final status issues such as the right of return of Palestinians and the division of Jerusalem.

I hope the formal launch of the Geneva accord, which took place on 1 December, will provide some impetus for dialogue and negotiations between the two sides in the conflict. Ireland was represented at the ceremony to launch the accord by our ambassador to Switzerland. The Nobel peace prize laureate, John Hume, was among the distinguished international speakers.

The authors of the initiative have indicated that they will wish to discuss their ideas with us, as we are about to hold the EU Presidency and I look forward to this contact. The authors of the accord are currently undertaking consultations with various international figures, including the US Secretary of State. The EU foreign and security policy representative, Dr. Javier Solana, has invited the authors of the accord to discuss it with him in Brussels.

The international quartet roadmap remains the blueprint for a settlement as it contains all the elements which must form part of any comprehensive peace package. The measures envisaged by the Geneva accord do not conflict with the roadmap, but give some indication of how the difficult problems associated with final status issues might be addressed.

Does the Minister have any comment to make on the opinion offered on behalf of the Israeli Government that it was a singular mistake by the United States Secretary of State to have endorsed the Geneva initiative? In the context of it being of assistance to the quartet proposals and the roadmap for peace, following meetings between authors of the Geneva initiative and the Government, which is about to assume the Presidency of the European Union, will the topic be specifically addressed by seeking to bring together the two initiatives during the period of the Irish Presidency?

Although the Israeli Government's initial reaction to it is disappointing, the accord proposes solutions to problems which must be solved prior to the formation of an independent Palestinian state. The accord demonstrates that there are parties on both sides of the conflict who are willing to address these final status issues in a rational manner. It is particularly important during difficult periods, such as the present one, that contacts between civil society representatives should be fostered and encouraged.

The Middle East dossier will be a prominent file during Ireland's EU Presidency despite the rather pessimistic background against which we are operating. Our problem at the moment is to get phase 1 of the road map operational to move towards final status issues related to phase 3. As I have said, the Geneva accord is helpful as it demonstrates that people on both sides are prepared to confront these issues rationally and to set out a prospectus which suggests what a solution will look like in the final analysis. Unfortunately, the failures of parliaments in respect of the first and second phases of the road map mean we are not yet at the stage when the governments and the Palestinian authority will sit down to discuss the detail of agreement on final status issues.

As I have said, I hope the publication and support of the accord will provide an impetus to talks which have been stalled for far too long. A political track forward needs to be found quickly.

Would the Minister like to comment on the statement by the Israeli Government that it expects the Irish Presidency to be a particularly difficult period in terms of progress in the Middle East? Is the Minister of the opinion that progress is possible given the current Government's attitude and its total rejection of the overwhelming will of the United Nations by the building of a dividing wall?

The comment of the Israeli Government pre-dated a meeting I held with its Foreign Minister. The meeting, which took place in Brussels, involved a very civil and frank exchange of views. I look forward to working with Israel's Foreign Minister, Mr. Silvan Shalom.

Rather than accept the idea that the Irish Presidency will be a particularly difficult one, my job will be to present the European Union stance. That is the Presidency's responsibility. We must move away from the idea that the EU is hostile to any one side in terms of trying to facilitate agreement and dialogue. While some elements of the Israeli Government and public opinion do not agree, our approach is even-handed. There are many in Israel who recognise the benefits of the Quartet approach. The Quartet approach should prevent the use of governments on either side of the Atlantic as proxies for particular positions. The Quartet road map has the potential to overcome the perception of governments as proxies by parties in the Middle East region itself. I look forward to making every effort with the high representative and others to bring our particular experience of peace building to bear on the Middle East situation.

The initial requirement is a ceasefire. The Palestinian Authority and the Prime Minister are working hard to achieve that at the moment. Even if it is not accepted fully, we must continue to make the case that Israel's security is best guaranteed by political perspective which will effect a just and equitable solution to this problem. We cannot achieve peace and stability in the region without adopting a realistic political perspective which will be supported by all sides with the momentum called for by the road map.

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