EU Presidency Statement - The situation in the Middle East

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Associated Countries - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey -, as well as the EFTA country of the European Economic Area - Iceland - align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

for more than half a century, the General Assembly has devoted continued and focused attention to the situation in the Middle East. Sadly, however, during this lengthy period, the Middle East has remained in a state of serious crisis. Just as half a century ago, the epicentre of the crisis remains the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The European Union outlined its view on the tragic events that continue to unfold in the occupied territories during the debate on the Question of Palestine. I, therefore, just want to underscore that the European Union strongly believes that only through a process of negotiations can we hope to achieve a peaceful and just settlement of the conflict in the Middle East.

The European Union is deeply concerned by the situation in the region and has noted that, despite support given by international community to the quest for just and lasting solution, insufficient effort has been made by the concerned parties to seize the opportunity for peace set out in particular in the Performance-based Road Map to a Permanent Two-States Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, presented by the Quartet to the Parties on 30 April 2003. We therefore calls once again both parties - Israel and the Palestinian Authority - to live up to the commitments they undertook on this regard at Aqaba summit on June 4, 2003.

The European Union is firmly committed to the clear objective of two States, Israel and a viable and democratic Palestinian State, living side by side in peace and security, in the framework of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, as laid out in the Road Map. We strongly reaffirm the principles stated in the Road Map. On this regard the European Union welcomes and emphasizes the unanimous endorsement of the Road Map made by the Security Council with resolution 1515.

The European Union also urges all sides in the region to immediately implement policies conducive to dialogue and negotiations. The EU relationship with those who will take steps to the contrary will be inevitably affected by such behaviour.

The European Union strongly condemns the suicide attacks and other acts of violence that have occurred over the last few months and calls upon all sides to refrain from any provocative action which can further escalate the tension. The European Union reiterates that it is the duty of all countries, including of those in the region, to end harbouring and support, including fund-raising and financial assistance, of any groups and individuals that use terror and violence to advance their goals.

Terrorist attacks against Israel have no justification whatsoever and damage the Palestinian legitimate national cause.

The European Union emphasises once again that, in compliance with the Road Map, the Palestinian leadership must concretely demonstrate its determination in the fight against extremist violence and urges the Palestinian Government and the Palestinian President to take immediate steps to confront individuals and groups conducting and planning terrorist attacks. The EU still believes that Palestinian security services should be consolidated under the control of the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister.

Mr. President,

while recognizing Israel's right to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks, the European Union urges the Government of Israel, in exercising this right, to fully respect international law, in particular human rights law and international humanitarian law including the Fourth Geneva Convention and to exert maximum effort to avoid civilian casualties and take no action that aggravates the humanitarian and economic plight of the Palestinian people. It also calls on Israel to abstain form any punitive measures which are not in accordance with international law, including extra-judicial killings.

The European Union is particularly concerned by the route marked out for the so-called security fence in the Occupied West Bank. The envisaged departure of the route from the "Green Line" could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-States solution physically impossible to implement. It would cause further humanitarian and economic hardship to the Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians west of the fence are being cut off from essential services in the West Bank, Palestinians east of the fence will lose access to land and water resources. On this regard the European Union takes note with concern of the content of the relevant Report of the Secretary General pursuant General Assembly Resolution ES-10/13.

The European Union calls on Israel to stop and reverse its settlement policy and to immediately dismantle settlements built after March 2001. We also call on Israel to lift the blockade on the Occupied Territories and withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities to the positions held prior to September 2000. Moreover, Israel must ensure the full, safe and unfettered access to the occupied territories by humanitarian personnel and assistance in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

The EU believes that a final peace settlement in the Middle East must be comprehensive and will not be complete without including a final Israeli peace settlement with Syria and Lebanon. We urge Israel, Syria and Lebanon to resume negotiations as soon as possible with the aim of reaching an agreement, and we urge all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that damage the prospects for the peace process as a whole.

In May 2000 Israel unilaterally withdrew its forces from south Lebanon in line with Security Council resolution 425 of 1978. Even though the situation there has been characterised by a state of relative calm, serious violations of the ceasefire continue to occur. It is essential that the Lebanese government fulfils its responsibility under that resolution and reinstate its effective authority to all of southern Lebanon, including by deploying its forces along the Blue Line, in order to restore peace and security in the area. For its part, Israel must stop the repeated air violations of the Blue Line, which are unjustified and a cause of great concern to the civilian population. Furthermore, both parties must ensure the safety of the personnel of the United Nations Interim Force in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) and their full freedom of movement in the discharge of UNIFIL's mandate.

Mr. President,

Besides being actively engaged in the Middle East Peace Process through the Quartet, the European Union takes a strong interest in the development of the Mediterranean Region as a whole and in maintaining close and longstanding ties with its countries as exemplified by the ongoing Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference in Naples. Through the Barcelona Process the European Union aims to play its full part in ensuring peace, stability and security as well as a sustainable and balanced economic and social development in the Mediterranean region.

Mr. President,

Finally, the European Union reiterates its determination to contribute to a just and lasting settlement of the situation in the Middle East, based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 425, 1397, 1515, the Madrid terms of reference, in particular the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative endorsed at the Arab League Summit in Beirut, and finally the Road Map presented by the Quartet to the parties on 30 April 2003, and stresses in particular at this last regard the importance and the urgency of setting up a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism composed by all members of the Quartet.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Follow-up to the International Conference on FfD (Monterrey 2002): The EU Barcelona Commitments (30/10/2003)
• Joint Statement by the Quartet - The Road Map (30/4/2003)
• EU and Middle East (16/9/2002)