Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response he received to his call for a ceasefire in the Middle East which he raised when attending a recent meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrialised nations in Washington; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18837/04]
View answerThe recent meetings of the G8, both at foreign ministerial level and at the summit, included useful discussions on the Middle East peace process. The main purpose of the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting on 14 May was to prepare for the summit. The G8 meetings took place after the New York meeting of the Quartet on 4 May. As the Deputy will be aware, the Quartet welcomed the efforts of the Government of Egypt to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. The importance of a ceasefire was understood by all G8 Foreign Ministers. At the G8 meetings, there was general agreement on the need for international action in support of the peace process and at the summit it was agreed that the Quartet should meet again before the end of this month. The statement on the Middle East issued after the G8 summit urged the Government of Egypt to continue its important work in this regard.
