EU Calls for Peaceful Steps by Middle East PartiesForeign ministers from 15 member countries of the European Union (EU) called on the two parties in the Middle East to avoid further violence and resume their dialogue as soon as possible."The European Union considers that it is a matter of absolute priority for the parties, in the hours ahead, to take in parallel the necessary de-escalation measures and to avoid any fresh provocation," the ministers said in a declaration on the Middle East. During their meeting in Luxembourg, the foreign ministers said the EU is convinced that "two peoples who must coexist have no other option than immediately to resume the negotiation path to peace, which Israelis and Palestinians have both, in recent weeks, overcome so many obstacles hitherto considered insurmountable". "The European Union calls upon the Israeli Prime Minister to address the Palestinian people and on the President of the Palestinian Authority to address the Israeli people and to unite their efforts: in this critical period no effort must be spared to prevent fear, hatred and violence from gaining the upper hand, so that the dialogue for peace may resume as soon as possible," the EU declaration said. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |