At their meeting in Brussels on 8 December, the EU Foreign Ministers will, among other topics, discuss the role of the EU in the Middle East peace process and the controversy over Iran’s nuclear programme; they will also take a stand on relations between the EU and Iraq. The Middle East is sure to be discussed also on Monday evening, when the EU Foreign Ministers have a dinner meeting with Catherine Ashton, the newly appointed High Representative.
As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, Israel and Palestine are EU partners. The EU is the greatest supporter of the Palestinian National Authority. For Israel, in turn, the EU is the most important trade partner, accounting for a third of Israel’s exports.
The EU strives at initiating negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians
A resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Arabs has been sought since 1947 by proposing a two state model where an independent state of Palestine would be formed from the Palestinian areas. The parties have agreed on the objective in the so-called Roadmap for Peace in 2003, but consensus has not been reached on the status of Palestinian refugees, boundary lines or the question of Jerusalem.
Director General Kirsti Kauppi of the Department for Africa and the Middle East says that the EU must do what it can so that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians can be opened. “Negotiations must be approached with serious intentions of achieving results. The situation in the field affects negotiation possibilities,” she states.
Finland wants the EU to have a clear policy on settlements
Establishment of the two state model is also hampered by the settlements built by Israel on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, which splinter the Palestinian areas. Director General Kauppi says that the construction of settlements is very problematic.
“Israel’s recent announcement of a partial building freeze is a positive but meagre gesture, as it does not include East Jerusalem. Construction of settlements in East Jerusalem provokes an otherwise explosive situation. In Finland’s view, the EU must remain firm and consistent with regard to Israel’s settlement policy. The settlements are against international law, nor do they promote the peace process essential to all,” Kauppi continues.
Finns, too, participate in EU crisis management missions
Realisation of the Roadmap is promoted by the so-called Middle East Quartet, to which the EU belongs together with the UN, the United States and Russia. The EU also has a Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Marc Otte, who stays in close contact with the Government of Israel, Palestinian National Authority and partners in the region.
The EU also has two civilian crisis management missions in the area: the EUPOL COPPS mission to support police activities in the Palestinian Territories and the EUBAM Rafah mission for border control at the crossing point between Gaza and Egypt. A total of seven Finnish experts are posted to these missions, which were set up in 2005.
Director General Teemu Tanner of the Political Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, says that the efforts of Prime Minister Fayyad of the Palestinian National Authority to bring about the building of state structures should still be supported. “It is good that Finland, too, is participating in the civilian crisis management mission supporting the development of civilian policework in the Palestinian Territories and helps in building a working state governed by law,” he continues.
EU tries to persuade Iran in the nuclear programme controversy
Alongside the weak human rights situation in Iran, the EU is also concerned about the country’s nuclear programme. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given Iran an agreement proposal whereby Iran would send most of its concentrated uranium to Russia and France for reprocessing. Once converted to fuel, the uranium would be returned to Iran, to be used for medical purposes.
By accepting the agreement, Iran could dispel suspicions that its nuclear programme strives to develop nuclear weapons.
However, this has not happened; on the contrary, last Sunday Iran announced the construction of ten new uranium concentration plants. An evaluation of the progress made in resolving the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme will be made at the European Council in December.
Director General Kauppi states that the two-track policy must be continued; that is, applying pressure on Iran through sanctions in addition to seeking a solution through negotiation. “So far it seems that Iran is not genuinely committed to seeking a solution through negotiation, which is most unfortunate,” Director General Kauppi says. Iran’s hints that it might restrict cooperation with the IAEA are alarming and damaging, and they are not acceptable,” Kauppi continued.
EU supports election preparations in Iraq
Since 2005 the EU has had a civilian crisis management mission in Iraq, the Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX), through which development of the rule of law in the country has been strengthened. Director General Tanner says that, through the programme, Finland has provided prison administration and police training for Iraqi authorities. Cooperation between the EU and Iraq is passing on to a new phase now that in negotiations, the parties have reached agreement on the text for a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, or PCA.
The Ministers will take a stand on this negotiation outcome and on support for the elections in Iraq, envisaged for January 2010.
”With the new PCA, official political dialogue is launched between Iraq and the EU. For development of Iraq, it is important that the legislation governing elections and other election preparations are in place in good time, so that the elections can be held on schedule, peacefully and democratically,” Director General Kauppi continued.
Source:isria.com/
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