Leaders of the European Union on Friday issued a new plea for Middle East peace talks and renewed offers to help a resumption of negotiations.
In a statement issued during an EU summit, the 15 member nations called for an end "to violence, the suffering of populations and hatred between peoples."
The EU called for a personal commitment from the Palestinian and Israeli leaders, Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak, and for both sides to respect the pledges made at Sharm el-Sheikh and Gaza.
Concrete gestures must be made, the EU statement said, with Palestinians renouncing violence and Israel its settlements.
The EU was willing to talk to all parties to seek ways to revive peace negotiations, the statement said.
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said late Thursday he hoped to see a "change of tone" between the Israelis and Palestinians when he visits the Middle East at the end of next week.
Vedrine, who will go to Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the visit from December 13-15 would be carried out in the name of the presidency of the EU.
"There is perhaps a change of tone on both sides, a few bilateral and multilateral contacts, a few messages sent from each side; but not enough to take up the thread of the discussions again," Vedrine said.
The EU's foreign policy supremo Javier Solana will on Monday join an international fact-finding missing looking into the violence that has killed over 300 people since the end of September. That mission is headed by former US Senator George Mitchell
"We expect and we ask the two sides to put into effect without delay and without excuses the commitments of Sharm el-Sheikh: we want visible, clear gestures," Vedrine said -- NICE (AFP)
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