Channels

Solana greets Lieberman
Photo: AFP

'Not much progress' at Solana-Lieberman meeting

EU foreign policy chief meets with Israeli foreign minister, says decisions regarding future of ties to Israel will be made only after new government reveals its standing on peace negotiations with Palestinians

The European Union will decide what to do about a frozen upgrade in ties with Israel once Israel unveils its Palestinian strategy review, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Wednesday.

 

Solana said "not much has advanced" in a meeting with new Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in

Prague and the Israeli side was fully aware of the EU's position, which insists on a two-state solution.

 

"They are in the process of review," he told reporters. "They have to see how they can make something that is compatible with that."

 

Solana said the Israeli side said it would have clearer ideas on the Palestinian policy around the middle of May.

 

Lieberman was in Europe to try to allay concern about the new Israeli government's policy on peace with the Palestinians, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worried international mediators by refusing to

embrace a vision of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

 

Aides said the aim of the visit was to buy time until the month-old government formed a regional strategy.

While the world waits to see US President Barack Obama's next steps on the conflict, the 27-nation European Union has linked an unfreezing of plans to upgrade ties with Israel to Netanyahu committing to negotiate a two-state accord.

 

This has drawn rebukes from Israel, where officials said the EU risked undermine its peacemaking clout.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.06.09, 23:56
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment