Charlie O'Connor
Question:280 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his endeavours and contacts in respect of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23455/04]
View answerTuesday, 5 October 2004
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Written answers
Successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs have maintained Ireland's strong engagement with the efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. I would propose to cover only the most recent work in this area, with particular emphasis on the outcome of the Irish Presidency of the European Union.
The Irish Presidency continued European Union efforts to promote the implementation of the roadmap. My predecessor conducted an intensive round of meetings with interlocutors from the region. He also visited the region in January and in March and had separate meetings here in Dublin with the Palestinian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister and the Israeli Foreign Minister. We pressed the parties to adopt concrete measures which would advance the peace process.
We maintained close contact with partners in the quartet and emphasised the need for a meeting of the quartet at principals' level. This meeting was held on 4 May in New York and was attended by my predecessor. The statement issued following this meeting reaffirmed the quartet's commitment to a negotiated settlement to the conflict resulting in two states, Israel and a viable, democratic, sovereign and contiguous Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
The Irish Presidency also responded to the developments on the ground, particularly Prime Minister Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan. The March European Council identified criteria that are essential to make a withdrawal acceptable to the international community and in April EU foreign ministers, meeting in Tullamore, issued a statement which reaffirmed the EU's position on the resolution of the conflict and the importance of a negotiated settlement. The European Council in June reviewed developments in the Middle East peace process. It expressed concern at the continuing violence and at the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories. It welcomed the prospect of Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, provided that it is implemented in accordance with the elements identified in the conclusions of the European Council in March.
The European Council also reaffirmed its belief that the roadmap represents the only route to achieving a negotiated two state solution to the Israeli — Palestinian conflict and called for renewed efforts towards a comprehensive ceasefire.
During the Presidency we also encouraged civil society initiatives. In March, the then Minister met promoters of the Geneva Initiative and in April he met Israeli and Palestinian parliamentarians participating in a Glencree Centre for Reconciliation workshop. The Government's position on the conflict was restated most recently in the annual address to the UN General Assembly on 22 September 2004.