EU’s Ferrero to advance Israeli-Palestinian talks

Thursday October 25, 2007 20:04 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC

In a three-day visit to the region later this month, EU’s commissioner general for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is expected to hold separate meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian officials, within diplomatic efforts ahead of next month’s Washington-backed conference on Middle East peace, EU sources said on Thursday.

EU's External Relations Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner

This visit is said to get both the Palestinians and Israelis closer in terms of core issues, the conference will likely tackle, in a time the U.S Secretary of States, Condoleezza Rice, has exerted relentless efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides over the past several weeks.

Ferrero’s first stop will be Israel, where she will meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Israeli PM, Ehud Olmert, Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak and vice Israeli PM.

In the Palestinian territories, the EU high-ranking official is set to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, acting foreign minister, Riyad Almaliki and top Palestinian negotiator, Ahmad Qurai.

A part of her visit will be a field tour in the West Bank refugee camp of Qalandia and an EU-built local school.

In Cairo, meetings will involve the Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and foreign minister Ahmad Abu Elgheit, with an emphasis on ways to develop EU-Egyptian relations.

Palestinians and Israelis are yet to reach a joint statement on core negotiations issues such as the problem of Palestinian refugees, the status of Jerusalem and the borders of future Palestinian state.

The statement is seen by Palestinians as an imperative for attending the Annapolis conference, while Israelis deem it unnecessary.

The EU is a member of the international Quartet for Middle East peace, which also includes the United States, the United Nations and Russia.

international | peace process | news report rami at imemc dot org