David Stanton
Ceist:134 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Middle East peace process will be advanced in the near future. [21128/03]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
John Gormley
Ceist:141 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his June 2003 visit to the Middle East; his views on the roadmap for peace; if he is planning any initiatives during Ireland's EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21346/03]
Joe Sherlock
Ceist:156 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his official visit to the Middle East at the end of June 2003; and his views on the prospects for political progress in the region based on the meetings he held. [21088/03]
John Gormley
Ceist:175 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the results of his meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21142/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 141, 156 and 175 together.
I visited the Middle East from 24 to 30 June last. I had high level meetings in Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. It did not prove possible to agree a visit to Israel at that time. To deal with each country in turn, I began in Egypt. In Cairo I met Foreign Minister Maher. I also met Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League.
The following day I visited Ramallah in the Palestinian Territories. I met Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and I called on President Arafat. The President described the difficult conditions under which he and the Palestinian people were living. I urged the view that the roadmap was the solution supported by the entire international community and said that the President's full support for the roadmap, for Mahmoud Abbas and his Government, and for the reform process was essential.
I also met Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas who outlined his efforts to achieve a ceasefire. He was confident that the roadmap could be implemented progressively.
The following day I visited Jordan, where I had a number of meetings on Irish-Jordanian issues, including with the Minister for Planning, Bassem Awadallah, who briefed me on the state of the economy and Jordan's plans for reform. I discussed regional issues with Foreign Minister Marwan al – Muashir. In Syria I had a very valuable meeting with President Bashir Assad which lasted an hour and a half and was followed by lunch with Foreign Minister Sharaa. My final stop was in Lebanon where I met President Emile Lahoud and separately with Foreign Minister Jan Obeid.
My evaluation was that we met with a very positive response from all our interlocutors. All were willing to play their part in advancing the peace process. While there was much scepticism about Israeli intentions and American staying power, everyone recognised that there was a prospect of success and was prepared to make an effort to achieve agreement. There was also general recognition that violence could do nothing to advance the Palestinian cause.
Everyone was highly appreciative of the role of the European Union and looked to the Union to provide the necessary balance. They also looked to the quartet to play a major role, while recognising that the American role would be central. All our interlocutors praised the European Union decision not to isolate or undermine President Arafat, whose support would be needed to win acceptance for any deal which might emerge. They insisted that any other policy was seriously mistaken.
My discussion of the issues on the ground with most of the major players was both useful and worthwhile and gave me additional insights into the immensely complex issues with which we shall have to be more closely involved during our Presidency. In all the countries I visited, I encountered a genuine desire for peace which I hope can be built on in the future.
There have been significant developments in the Middle East since the end of June. Very few of them have been positive. Nevertheless, I believe that progress is possible. The roadmap contains all the elements which must form part of any comprehensive settlement.