EU, Arab leaders urge quick actions in pursuit of Mideast peace
15/5/2007 16:28
Leaders from the European Union ( EU) and the Arab League (AL) in Brussels
yesterday called on the Ideas Quartet and other international players to take
quick actions to help achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East.
The call
was made at a joint press conference between representatives from the EU and the
AL, who attended for the first time ever an EU foreign ministers' meeting
earlier in the day.
Calling the meeting "historical," Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal said that "the Arab states are serious and determined to
achieve peace (in the Middle East)." "We've lost so much time and energy. We'll
try to make up for the time."
He called on the EU to work along with the Arab
states in the pursuit of peace, especially that between Israel and the
Palestinians, not only to support the Arab efforts, but also to exchange ideas
to establish a mechanism of cooperation between the Arab side and the EU, so as
to "move forward for a more stable, prosperous region where Israelis and
Palestinians can live in peace and harmony."
"We look forward to a future
with stability," he added.
AL Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that the AL
delegation discussed "concrete proposals" with EU ministers on how to achieve
peace.
"We are for peace," he said. "The (Ideas) Quartet has a responsibility
to move on."
He also said that a "timeframe" is being under discussion that
"will make us feel necessary to move as quickly as possible."
In the
meantime, he called for simultaneous actions from the Arab and Israeli
sides.
"The Arab side is ready, but we cannot make gestures free of charge,"
he said. "We are ready to move on, but will not while the other side (Israel) is
not ready. We are ready to take steps, but will not while the other side is not
ready."
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy, said the meetings with the AL delegation were " very important," noting
that the EU and the Arab side is working toward the same goal.
EU External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who earlier in the day met with
Palestinian Foreign Minister Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, said the
meetings "have brought more confidence" in EU-AL relations.
However, at the
conclusion of the press conference, Moussa said it "was wrong" for the EU not to
directly support the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
Xinhua
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