Finian McGrath
Ceist:178 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use his power and influence to advance the case for a Palestinian state. [28436/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 November 2004
Ceisteanna (131)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government believes that the best way to bring about a Palestinian state is through a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Government, together with our EU partners, has consistently worked for a negotiated end to the conflict, leading to a viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent Palestinian state existing side by side in peace with Israel. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I will work resolutely for this end.
The Government has expressed its position in the UN and in other international fora, most recently through my predecessor's address to the UN General Assembly on 22 September 2004, as well as during our time on the Security Council.
At the European Council on 5 November, which I attended with the Taoiseach, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the two state solution as laid out in the quartet road map and stated its objective of relaunching a meaningful political process of negotiations. In particular, the Government strongly supports the Council's decision to endorse a short-term programme of action in the fields of security, reforms, elections and the economy which was proposed by High Representative Solana, and the Council's invitation to the high representative to conduct consultations with the parties and the quartet on how these political objectives can be realised, with a view to placing these proposals within a broader political perspective.