Socialist International leader calls for ceasefire in Middle East
23/7/2006 10:50
President of the Socialist International (SI) George Papandreou yesterday
called on Israel and the United States to take pragmatic measures to ease the
current Middle East crisis.
During an interview with a local newspaper,
Papandreou, also leader of Greece's main opposition Socialist (PASOK) party,
expressed his "deep concern" over the escalating situation in the Middle East,
and criticized the international community for reacting "tepidly and very
cautiously."
He called on Israel and the US "not to adopt the extreme line of
pro-war elements which exist in their countries." Otherwise, "We will have
polarization, permanent tension and anything else," he warned.
Israel "cannot
in the long-term survive as an islet between hostile populations," Papandreou
mentioned.
"A strong Palestinian state is in the interest of Israel itself,"
he added.
The SI leader also proposed to hold a regional conference in the
Middle East "which will involve and commit all those who have interest" for a
way out of the crisis, with an aim for a ceasefire and peace at that
place.
He also urged the European Union to take a more intensive position and
move to solve the crisis.
The SI is a worldwide organization of social
democratic, socialist and labor parties, currently numbering 161 political
parties and organizations from around the world.
Xinhua
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