EU Presidency Statement - The question of Palestine

Summary: November 30, 2000: Statement made by His Excellency, Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. Question of Palestine (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.

Whereas one seemed to have never been so close to an agreement on the permanent status, the crisis which has now been lasting for more than two months has once again plunged into mourning the Palestinian and Israeli families and postponed the prospects of an agreement.

For the European Union, the priority is that violence ceases and that the negotiations resume. We urge the parties to show their sense of responsibility and to implement the measures of wisdom required for this purpose, as agreed upon at the summit held at Sharm el-Sheikh.

But the current crisis, which reflects deep frustration, strongly needs a courageous and generous political solution. The ways to that solution have been shown : implementation of the commitments agreed upon at Sharm el-Sheikh as well as signed agreements and of international law, in particular relevant UN resolutions. In this context, as stated last year in the General Assembly during the general debate on the same item, the European Union strongly insists on the need to abstain from any acts which could prejudge the final outcome of the negotiations or harm the atmosphere. The lack of progress in the Peace Process, including on the settlements issue, is the source of the Palestinian community's frustration and the violence.

In spite of the very serious current situation, last year has provided some reasons for hope. At Camp David, daring and constructive solutions have been dealt with, in particular on the most delicate question of all, Jerusalem, solutions which, for the first time, open real prospects of settlement.

The European Union has expressed itself on several occasions about the release of that crisis. We have supported SCR 1322, in particular the judgment of the Council deploring the provocation carried out at Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000, and the subsequent violence there and at other Holy Places, as well as in other areas throughout the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 as well as the judgment of the Coucil condemning acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinians, resulting in injury and loss of human life. Our assessment of the question remains the same. We have spared no effort for putting an end to violence and encourage the Israeli and the Palestinians to go back to the negotiating table. The European Union has appealed to the parties in Biarritz on 12 October. The EU was present at Charm el-Cheikh on 15 and 16 October. The European Special Envoy has played an important role in the Arafat/Peres meeting of November 1st, that led to an agreement on measures likely to put an end to violence. In Marseilles the dialogue has been taken up again and the commitments made to returning to the situation before 28 September have been reiterated.

The situation remains of deep concern : over 300 deaths and thousands of injuries in two months, overwhelmingly Palestinians, among whom many children. That is unacceptable.

In the face of such a serious situation, even if we repeat ourselves, the European Union stresses once again that the priority is to stop violence : at the General Affairs Council on November 20th, the Foreign ministers of the Fifteen have again appealed to both sides' sense of responsibility not to respond to provocation. Let me remind you of their words :

"For weeks now lives have been lost on a daily basis, both Palestinian and Israeli. This is an intolerable situation. The European Union appeals that both sides show their sense of responsibility by not responding to provocation.

The lack of progress in the Peace Process, including on the settlement issue, is the source of the Palestinian community's frustration and the violence.

The European Union urges Israeli and Palestinian leaders to comply fully, and without delay, with the undertakings entered into at Sharm el-Sheikh five weeks ago and in Gaza on 2 November.

It calls on the Israeli authorities :

to pull back their armed forces to the positions they occupied before 28 September and to end restrictions on the movement of goods and persons in the Palestinian territories ;
to lift the financial sanctions imposed on the Palestinian Authority ;
if action by the security forces appears unavoidable, to use non-lethal means only, as called for by the United Nations Secretary-General

.It calls on the Palestinian Authority :

to make every endeavour to bring the violence to an end ;
to issue strict instructions to the security forces to stop shooting at Israelis, in accordance with the statement made by President Arafat.

The European Union calls on the Fact-Finding Committee, set up following the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit and in which the European Union is represented by Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary-General/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, to commence its work on the ground without delay.

We support the moves by the United Nations Secretary-General to examine with the parties arrangements for an observer mission in accordance with the Security Council's mandate.

We continue to support the endeavours and personal commitment of President Clinton in the search for peace.

The goal naturally remains a resumption of the dialogue and the peace talks, as this is the only way out of the current crisis. The protagonists are well aware of it. Putting a stop to the violence is a matter of vital urgency.

The European Union is willing to make a contribution. It is ready to assume its responsibilities."

After that quotation of the ministerial statement of the Union, I would like to stress the absolute need for a political solution. The European Union remains convinced that there is no other choice than negotiation in order to reach peace which will allow the Palestinian people to regain faith in a better future. Its reaffirms its commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on SCR 242 and 338 and on the principles adopted at the Madrid Conference - in particular the principle "land for peace" and on the agreements reached in Oslo and thereafter. It is on the basis of its declaration adopted in Berlin on 25 March 1999 that the European Union confirms its strong wish to see acknowledged and to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian People, as well as to see realized their national aspirations, including their right to a State. The European Union also reiterates the right of the Israeli people to security.

The European Union stresses the importance of implementing all signed agreements, in particular the Interim agreements. We call upon the parties to expeditiously reach a mutually acceptable solution for the permanent status matters, in compliance with the Oslo Accords and international law, in particular UNSC resolutions 242 and 338.

As they stated in Marseilles on 17 November, reiterating their common position expressed in the declaration adopted in Berlin on 25 March 1999, the Fifteen are willing to "see established, in the short run, and preferably through negotiation, a sovereign democratic, viable and peaceful Palestinian State". In Santa Maria da Feira, on 20 June, the Union had stressed how important it was to fully take into account, in the permanent status talks, the viability of any Palestinian State which could result from it.

Finally, I would like to stress that the United Nations have a useful role to play, with the consent of the parties, in contributing to seeking appeasement and a lasting solution. At a modest and technical level, the computerization, under the auspices of the Conciliation Commission of the United Nations, of the ground property archives of mandated Palestine represents a useful contribution, in the prospect of a settlement of the refugee question, in accordance with resolution 194 of the General Assembly. At the political level, the Secretary-General engages in irreplaceable activity, which all acknowledge. His decisive role at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit has been unanimously commended. The Security Council has mandated Mr. Kofi Annan to consult with the parties on the possibility and acceptable ways of implementation of a UN observer mission. We hope that a solution suitable for both parties can be found without delay.

Ref: PRES00-304EN
EU source: EU Presidency
UN forum: First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)
Date: 30/11/2000

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