Javier Solana: no peace in the Middle East with settlement construction

Tuesday March 11, 2008 12:35 by Mohamed Al Arabi - IMEMC News

Javier Solana High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the European Union, stated on Monday evening that if Israeli continues to built settlements it would not create "the right atmosphere" for peace in the Middle East.

Javier Solana File 2008

Solana added that "the construction of settlements must stop". His statements came during a press conference after a meeting between the Foreign ministers of the EU countries.

In addition to Solana, Benita Ferrero-Waldner the EU Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy and Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner for the enlargement of the EU, spoke at the press conference.

Solana reiterated that the EU Ministers will persist and keep pushing to achieve the goals of Annapolis conference. At the US sponsored Annapolis conference last November Palestinians and Israelis agreed to reinstate peace talks.

The EU Secretary-General also said that Egypt's role in mediation is very important for creating the needed atmosphere in order to achieve peace in the region.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters at the press conference that most of the EU officials are convinced that there is a need to open all crossings that connect Gaza to the rest of the world to stabilize the economical situation and ease the humanitarian hardships Gaza residents are facing.

Translated by Ghassan Bannoura – IMEMC News.

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