The EU foreign affairs ministers’ meeting, held in Brussels on Friday, adopted conclusions on the Middle East Peace process, especially Gaza, stressing that, the situation in the Gaza Strip has been unsustainable for many years and a return to the status quo prior to the latest conflict is not an option. The EU Foreign Affairs Council issued a press release outlining in seven points its conclusions on the Middle East, particularly Gaza Strip, in the aftermath of the Israeli military aggression and ongoing blockade. Concerning the Cairo-based indirect talks to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement, the EU expressed its ‘extreme concerns’ about “the fragile situation on the ground following the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip”. It stated in this regard that it “strongly welcomes the ceasefire which has been in place since 11 August and calls on all the parties concerned to agree on and abide by a durable ceasefire. It also commended the ‘considerable efforts’ and ‘commitment’ of Egypt to broker this and earlier deals. Concerning the humanitarian situation in the blockaded and impoverished coastal strip, the EU stated that it “remains concerned about the disastrous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip particularly the conditions of the displaced population, water supplies, electricity services, unexploded ordnance as well as destroyed and uninhabitable homes.” It called in this regard for “increased efforts to facilitate, in accordance with international humanitarian law, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip including for humanitarian personnel and supplies, and for the mobilization of humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza.” Underscoring the importance of lifting the eight-year blockade, the EU stated that “the situation in the Gaza Strip has been unsustainable for many years and a return to the status quo prior to the latest conflict is not an option.” It added in this regard: “A durable ceasefire must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through the lifting of the Gaza closure regime, and it must end the threat to Israel posed by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza as demonstrated by rocket attacks and tunnel construction,” calling for disarming the ‘militant groups’ in Gaza. “In this context and subject to the requests of our partners based on the outcome of the Cairo talks, the EU reiterates its readiness to contribute to a comprehensive and sustainable solution enhancing the security, welfare and prosperity of Palestinians and Israelis alike. The EU will develop options for effective and comprehensive action in the following areas: movement and access, capacity building, verification and monitoring, humanitarian relief and post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation through international donor efforts including the eventual organisation of a donors conference,” said the press release. “The EU is ready to support a possible international mechanism endorsed by the UNSC, including through the reactivation and possible extension in scope and mandate of its EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS missions on the ground, including the launch of a training programme for Palestinian Authority customs personnel and police for redeployment in Gaza,” it added. The EU demonstrated its willingness to contribute to “arrangements that prevent ‘illicit’ trafficking in arms and ammunition to the Gaza Strip and which can ensure the sustained re-opening of Gazas crossing points,” as well as to “study options for an internationally-supervised mechanism to enable full access and movement through all Gaza ports of entry.” The EU envisaged that that halting the Israeli aggression on Gaza and dealing with the dire situation there should fall within the broader framework of achieving the two-state solution. It stated in this regard: “The EU recalls that the situation in the Gaza Strip has to be seen within the broader context of the Middle East Peace Process and the prospect of comprehensive peace where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders.” It added: “This remains our ultimate objective. The Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and will be part of a future State of Palestine. The situation in the Gaza Strip cannot and must not be seen separately from the broader challenges and developments on the ground that continue to make the prospect of the two-state solution increasingly difficult to attain.” The EU has demonstrated its commitment to working with the Israeli government and with the Palestinian consensus government comprised of independent personalities under the leadership and expressed commitments of President Abbas, “which must exercise its full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip including in the field of security, civil administration and through its presence at Gazas crossing points. The EU reiterates that commitment today.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:54:24 +0000
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