This week's European Union (EU) summit will call for a joint US, European and Arab approach to support the recently floated Saudi initiative for ending violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Spain's Foreign Minister said Wednesday.
Addressing the European Parliament, Josep Pique said the summit starting Friday in Barcelona would urge all parties to back the peace plan raised by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, according to AP.
The Saudi plan foresees an independent Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital and the recognition of Israel by its Arab neighbors.
Pique, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said the two-day meeting of EU leaders would call for joint support for the proposed Saudi plan.
"International cooperation is essential to finding a solution to the conflict," Pique conveyed. "We should all agree that no solution can happen without the United States involvement."
Meanwhile, during a special debate on the Middle East crisis, Head of the European Parliament, Pat Cox reiterated an appeal for both Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to come to Strasbourg to address the EU assembly in an attempt to restart negotiations.
"We've got to do whatever we can," Cox told the 626-member assembly. "For humanity's sake please stop the violence, please start the dialogue and give peace a chance."
Cox has requested Israeli and Palestinian officials to allow him to travel with speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Avraham Burg to Ramallah in the West Bank to hold talks with Ahmed Qurei, speaker of the Palestinian Authority's legislative assembly. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
