Need for EU intervention in Middle East

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday June 13, 2003 15:50 by flanagan head_office at labour dot ie Ely Place, Dublin 2

Michael D. Higgins calls for EU intervention in the Middle East and to ensure that this crisis is at the top of the agenda at the meeting of EU leaders in Greece next week

The Labour Party Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michael D.Higgins, has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen TD, to seek the immediate intervention of the EU to try and halt the terrible cycle of violence that has taken so many Palestinian and Israeli lives within the past few days.

“The international community cannot stand aside and allow the terrible loss of life to continue. Neither suicide bombings or assassinations from the sky should be acceptable to any democrats. The legacy of these tactics is not just the dead and broken bodies but also the embitterment of a yet another generation of people in the region.

“The ‘road map’ proposals which had offered some hope of a breakthrough were drawn up by a ‘quartet’, made up of the United Nations, the U.S., Russia and the E.U. The joint ownership by the four parties of this proposal must now be reasserted. All of the participants must become actively involved in the search for a peaceful way forward. The situation is now so serious that we cannot wait for the planned meeting of the quartet on June 29th.

“Clearly the United States on its own does not have the required standing or authority to broker a solution. Indeed we are now paying a price for the U.S. inspired marginalisation of Yassar Arrafat. If we are to make any progress there must be continuous and deep involvement by the United Nations, the EU and Russia.

“EU leaders will meet in Greece at the end of next week. The Taoiseach must ensure that the Middle East is placed at the very top of their political agenda. Too many lives have been lost so far. The people of Israel and the people of Palestine deserve the opportunity to live their lives in peace and security. Ireland can and must play a role in ensuring that this happens.”