Summary: November 30, 2000: Statement made by His Excellency, Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. The situation in the Middle East (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia), and the associated countries Cyprus and Malta align themselves with this statement.
The Middle East is going through hard times. I will not go back over the tragic events that take place in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The European Union has expressed itself at length about that question under agenda item 41. Going back to calm and resuming the negotiations are a priority. Anger and frustration are bad advisers. The commitments agreed upon at Sharm el-Sheikh Summit must be abode by. There is no alternative to a Peace Process that has to result in a peaceful
cohabitation between Israel and a viable State of Palestine. Every step that could contribute to appeasement, favour the resumption of contacts between Israeli and Palestinians must be supported. In that regard, the European Union wishes that the Committee of Fact-Finding will be able to expeditiously achieve its task. In the same spirit, the European Union hopes, about the project of a UN observer mission, that a solution suitable for both parties can be found without delay, after the
consultations currently carried out by the Secretary-General, in compliance with the mandate that he has received from the Security Council.
That drama cannot be fully dissociated from the absence of any settlement on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks of the Peace Process. Only a just and comprehensive peace, based on SCR 242 and 338, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle "land for peace" - and on the Accords agreed upon in Oslo and thereafter - will be lasting.
In Southern Lebanon, a new chapter has been opened, last May, by the Israeli withdrawal. The Fifteen have taken note with satisfaction of this decision of the Israeli Government in compliance with SCR 425. We have supported the UN Secretary-General's efforts aimed at certifying the Israeli withdrawal and at favouring the redeployment of UNIFIL, parallel to the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South.
The European Union has welcome last summer the renewal of UNIFIL mandate through resolution 1310, as well as the redeployment of the international force and the dispatching by the Lebanese Government of a security "joint force" in the South.Those gestures have represented positive steps in the restoration of stability in the South, prerequisite of its reconstruction and of economic development in the area. The European Union is prepared to contribute to reconstruction efforts in the region, as
it has continuously done those last years for Lebanon as a whole.
The serious incidents which have taken place at the Israeli-Lebanese border since the beginning of October show nevertheless how fragile the situation remains in Southern Lebanon. The escalation of violence remains possible at each time. The European Union calls upon all parties to demonstrate utmost restraint. Every worsening of tension would harm the security of civilian populations and the regional stability, to which the European Union is deeply committed. It matters in particular that
every parties strictly abide by the "Blue Line" certified in June by the UN Secretary-General. It is also essential that the Lebanese Government, in accordance with SCR 425 and 1310, restores its full authority in the area, in order to ensure its stability and to create the conditions suitable for UNIFIL to accomplish its mandate.
The withdrawal of Israel from Southern Lebanon and the progressive restoration of Lebanese sovereignty in the area are steps in the right direction. They nevertheless do not sort out the more general matter of the Peace Process in the region. Only an agreement between Israël and Syria, in compliance with SCR 242 and 338, concerning the Golan, will be able to bring about the peace to which all the peoples in the region aspire. The European Union reiterates its willingness to contribute to
restore dialogue between Israel and Syria. We call upon both parties to resume negotiations, as soon as the circumstances will allow it, on the basis of international law principles and of the experience of the Peace process opened in Madrid in 1991.
In the difficult context that the Middle East experiences, the European Union reiterates its commitment to the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region. The European Union has never ceased and will go on pleading and acting in favour of regional stability and the populations' safety.
The European Union intends to maintain its efforts, in particular through the action of its High-Representative, Mr. Solana, present at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, member of the Committee of Fact-Finding and of its Special Envoy, Mr. Moratinos, in order to facilitate the resumption of negotiations on the three tracks of the Peace Process.
I wish here to commend, on behalf of the European Union, the useful action carried out by the United Nations. The Secretary-General exercises an irreplaceable role, unanimously commended and appreciated by all parties, in concertation with the Security Council and the General Assembly. The success of this activity has facilitated the Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon and, on the palestinian track, the holding of Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
The European Union is also determined to promote the relaunching, as soon as the conditions are met, of the multilateral track of the Peace Process. The European Union attaches great importance to the Working group on regional and economic development, which we lead. Regional cooperation is the best guarantee of mutual interest and comprehension among States and people in the Middle East.
Acknowledging the importance of a prosperous economy for ensuring political and social stability, the European Union will maintain its sizeable programme of technical assistance to the region. It would be proper to make progress in order to reach a euro-mediterranean free trade and shared prosperity area. Euro-Med Summit of the ministers of foreign affairs, which has just been held in Marseilles on 15 and 16 November, has represented in that regard a very significant step a in this direction.
That conference, five years after the founding meeting in Barcelona, has displayed the will of giving a fresh boost to the euro-mediterranean partnership.
The European Union would finally wish to reiterate its firm commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the principles enshrined in Security Council resolutions. The European Union is prepared to continue bringing all its contribution in favour of a peaceful and prosperous future in the Middle East.
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