By Bruno Waterfield - 15th April 2004
Europe’s foreign ministers have urged the US to include Palestinians in the Middle East ‘roadmap’ for peace.
An informal “brainstorming” gathering in Ireland will see discussions dominated by the pace of world events – particularly the impact of US policy in Iraq and the Middle East.
“The idea is to allow ourselves the time and space to consider issues in more depth than would normally be available to us at our regular meetings,” said the Dublin EU presidency.
“This weekend will be no exception, although the international situation means that the matters before us are of a particularly pressing nature.”
Europe has given a chilly response to Wednesday’s US initiative to back Israel’s plan to keep occupied territory on the West Bank.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Thursday restated Europe’s position that any change to Israel’s pre-1967 war boundaries must be with the consent of the Palestinians.
Ministers will also be concerned at Washington’s ditching of an “unrealistic” commitment to give a right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced by Israeli occupation.
Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen, who will be chairing the Tullamore talks, has indicated that the EU and US will not see eye to eye on deals that freeze out the Palestinians.
“Just three weeks ago [a summit of EU leaders] reiterated that we will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between parties,” he said.
“As regards refugees, I have pointed out that the ‘roadmap’ states that a final and permanent status agreement that ends the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must include an agreed, just, fair and realistic solution to the refugee issue.”
Europe’s rifts over Iraq – driven by last years US-led invasion – may find new expression as the ministers grapple with “the worsening security situation… and its impact on the political transition process”.
Calls for greater UN involvement unite Europe and there are signs that the US is willing to give the international community more of a political lead.
But some European capitals are less than willing to commit resources – especially troops or aid workers – under any flag, UN or US, while unrest continues.
National governments led by Germany and France will be urging Washington – and its European Iraq allies the UK, Spain, Italy and Poland – to give the UN the lead role in both political transition and military peacekeeping.
“The EU is absolutely committed to supporting the transition to a peaceful and democratic Iraq and to the UN's role in this process,” said Cowen.
“We will be assessing how the transition process might proceed in the current circumstances and how the EU can best support the reconstruction and development of Iraq.”
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