Ivan Yates
Ceist:20 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East following the death of King Hussein. [4388/99]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
Michael Ferris
Ceist:21 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's views on the current state of the Middle Eastern peace process, particularly in the aftermath of the death of King Hussein. [4374/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
The Middle East peace process is now at a critical point following the decision by the Israeli Government last December to suspend implementation of the Wye River Memorandum until after the Israeli elections, scheduled for 17 May.
I wish to pay tribute to the outstanding role in the peace process played by King Hussein. His diplomacy and his commitment to peace will be greatly missed. I hope that the supreme effort which he made, when terminally ill, to secure agreement on the Wye River Memorandum will not be in vain and that the parties will rededicate themselves to the efforts to bring about a permanent peace. In fact, the coming together of so many disparate political figures for the Jordanian Kings funeral last week may have helped provide the necessary impetus to restart the process. It is also significant that his son and successor to the throne, King Abdullah, has committed himself to carrying on the work so important to his father.
The Government, together with its EU partners, was very disappointed that new conditions seemed to have been added by Israel to the implementation of the Memorandum. Following the suspension of its implementation in December, the EU Presidency issued a declaration expressing the EUs regret at the Israeli Governments decision. At the most recent General Affairs Council meeting on 25 January, I and my EU colleagues deplored the continued suspension of Wye, in contravention of both the spirit and the letter of the memorandum. The Council also repeated its appeal to both sides to implement the agreement fully and without new conditions.
The Taoiseach, who last month visited the region and met with both sides, was informed by Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel was ready to continue with negotiations in the period before the elections – either within the Wye River Memorandum framework or outside it. The Taoiseach was also impressed by the seriousness with which President Arafat views the current impasse in the peace process and by the desire on the Palestinian side to explore possibilities for re-establishing the momentum of the talks.
Since the Taoiseach's visit, President Arafat has indicated on 11 February that the Palestinians are discussing the possibility of delaying the declaration on statehood due to be made on 4 May. I believe that any action which would help to build confidence and trust between the parties is to be welcomed.
The EU Presidency and the EU Special Envoy to the Middle East have just concluded a visit to the region. It is to be hoped that this visit will have encouraged the parties to renew the progress that was achieved at Wye. I expect to hear a report from the German Foreign Minister at the meeting of the General Affairs Council next Monday.