Summary: EU Presidency Statement - UN Security Council: Situation on the Middle East (13 February 2007: New York)
Statement on behalf of the European Union, by H.E. Mr. Thomas Matussek, Permanent Representative of Germany, on the Situation in the Middle East in the United Nations Security Council
Mister President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and po-tential candidates Albania and Serbia, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
The international community is faced with many a challenge in the Middle East. It is, however, the continuous standstill in the Middle East peace process which could ultimately prove to be the most serious threat to stability and security in the region - if not on a global scale. It is therefore up to all of us to move the peace process forward and to intensify our efforts in doing so. First and foremost, it is up to the conflicting parties to engage further but no less the international
community is put to task. It is up to the members of the Arab world and espe-cially to the Middle East Quartet to get - and remain - increasingly involved.
Mister President,
The European Union has repeatedly emphasised its determination to play an ac-tive role in the framework of increased Quartet activity.
Let me therefore stress, as stated in Washington on 2 February, the Quartet's intention to give active follow-up to meetings between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and to remain closely engaged at this moment of increased activity in dialogue. The Quartet has also reaffirmed its commitment to meet according to an agreed calendar and to monitor developments and actions taken by the parties. The European Union thus looks forward to the subsequent meetings of the Quar-tet, including with the
parties and other regional partners.
Of course, at the core of the issue is the need for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to launch a process with the goal of ending the occupation that began in 1967 and creating an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel. The European Union thus expresses its full support for the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Olmert, Presi-dent Abbas and Secretary of State Rice, scheduled to take place in the next cou-ple of
days.
We call for continued international assistance to the Palestinian people and wel-come the recent extension of the Temporary International Mechanism which is - in coordination with the Office of the President - providing essential relief to a large part of the Palestinian population. It presently reaches out to some 150.000 households. Yet again, we call on Israel for the immediate transfer of all with-held Palestinian tax and custom revenues and we encourage Israel to do so through the
Temporary International Mechanism. Furthermore, strengthening Palestinian institutions of governance and developing the Palestinian economy are of critical importance. In this context, I would like to recall the tremendous importance of the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Ac-cess and urge that Rafah and all other crossing points be re-opened and remain open. Let me also, at this stage, reiterate the European Union's continued com-mitment to the European Union Border
Assistance Mission in Rafah.
Mister President,
The European Union welcomes the fact that an agreement has been reached in Mecca last Thursday on the formation of a Palestinian national unity govern-ment. I would - at this point - like to pay tribute to the sustained efforts of Presi-dent Abbas to this end. The European Union stands ready to work with a legiti-mate Palestinian government that adopts a platform reflecting the Quartet prin-ciples.
Allow me to add our sincere appreciation for the work of the Saudi Arabian gov-ernment and in particular the valuable efforts of King Abdullah to bring about this meeting. I would also like to commend the initiative of the governments of Jordan and Egypt in reconciling the Palestinian factions.
Mister President,
With a view to recent developments on the ground, the European Union reiter-ates its call for an immediate and unconditional end to all acts of violence and terror. It also calls on the parties to consolidate the cease-fire in Gaza and to ex-tend it to the West bank.
The European Union condemns - in the strongest terms - the suicide attack per-petrated on 29 January in Eilat where three people were killed and many others wounded. On behalf of the European Union I offer our sincere condolences to the victims' families and our sympathy to the injured. Such attacks are aimed at innocent civilians with the goal of derailing the peace process.
In this regard, the European Union urges the Palestinian leadership to do every-thing in its power to put an end to terror and bring to justice those who support terror. It is vital to continue the genuine progress made in recent weeks in the search for peace, notably through the courageous efforts of both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian President to build confidence. The European Union also urges the parties to fully implement steps discussed at the December 23 meeting, to refrain
from taking any measures that could predetermine issues to be resolved by negotiations and to seek to fulfil their obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh understanding of 2005.
The European Union is deeply concerned about the recent authorisation of set-tlement activities by the Israeli government and the ongoing construction of the barrier on Palestinian land. These developments are contrary to international law and the Road Map. We call on Israel to desist from any action that threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. Settlement activities in and around East Jerusalem as well as in the Jordan valley are of particular concern. The Euro-pean Union will
not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both parties.
With all this in mind, the European Union looks forward to the next Quartet meeting at Principals' level, which is scheduled to take place in Berlin in just over a week from now, to further discuss the way forward.
Mister President,
On Lebanon, the European Union welcomes the success of the international con-ference in support of Lebanon held in Paris on 25 January 2007. By pledging more than 7.6 billion US dollars in aid, the international community has sent a strong message of support to the people of Lebanon and its legitimate and de-mocratically elected government.
The European Union and its member states contributed more than 40 % of the total aid pledged at the Paris Conference. These contributions are intended to provide Lebanon with the resources it needs to meet the challenges of recon-struction and macroeconomic stabilization. In this respect, the European Union reiterates its support for the reform programme adopted by the Lebanese gov-ernment on 4 January 2007, notably its social component, as well as for the commitment in principle to the signing
of a post-conflict agreement with the IMF. The adoption of the EU-Lebanon European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan will enable further deepening of our existing cooperation within the framework of the Association Agreement and of the Barcelona Process.
Having said that, the European Union condemns in the strongest of terms the targeted attacks on two buses in Lebanon which today claimed several lives and left many injured. Once again, we offer our condolences to the victims' families and our good wishes to the injured. The European Union also expresses great concern about the renewed violent clashes of the past weeks in Lebanon, which claimed several lives and caused numerous injuries. The European Union It urges all parties to refrain from
all forms of violence and to do everything possi-ble to prevent an escalation of the situation. A solution to the current political deadlock should be sought only through dialogue and with full respect for the democratic institutions of the country. The European Union urges all Lebanese actors to actively engage in such a dialogue and reiterates its appreciation for all constructive international mediation efforts, in particular those by the Secretary General of the Arab League, to facilitate
an intra-Lebanese agreement.
The European Union reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial in-tegrity and independence of Lebanon. It renews its call for the full and speedy implementation of Resolution 1701, 1664 and all other relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and reminds all parties in the region of their obligations there under. The European Union also reiterates its call on Syria and other countries in the region to refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of Lebanon.
They must, instead, actively engage in the stabilisation of Lebanon.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process
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