EP-Präsident Pat Cox lädt Shimon Peres und Jassir Arafat ins Europäische Parlament ein

Wien (OTS) - Das Europäische Parlament müsse alles tun, was in
seiner Macht stehe, um der Eskalation der Gewalt im Nahen Osten
Einhalt zu gebieten, betonte der Präsident des Europäischen
Parlaments Pat Cox heute eindringlich vor dem Plenum in Straßburg:

"We have been watching with growing disbelief the recent violence
and reciprocal atrocities. Military operations have now reached
levels unknown in 20 years. The region, and especially Israel and the
Palestinian territories, seems to be edging frighteningly,
inexorably, towards an all-out conflagration.

We have a responsibility, in this Parliament, in this unfolding
tragedy, to prevent the Holy Places being transformed into the
killing fields.

We must actively support the unanimous call yesterday evening by
the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire.

The EU's High Representative knows that our Parliament stands
squarely behind him in his indefatigable efforts in favour of peace
and for a ceasefire.

Equally, I wish to place on public record our Parliament's deep
debt to the personal courage and unshakeable commitment of EU envoy
Miguel Angel Moratinos. He will not thank me for saying this - I
spoke to him at length on the phone yesterday - but through his
diplomacy, always patiently keeping open the channels of
communication to each side and maintaining trust, often at risk to
his own life, Mr Moratinos is one of the EU's unsung heroes.

I pledge to take any action on behalf of Parliament which has a
chance of promoting peace, of drawing this region back from the edge.

I have taken steps to invite Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat to
break that infernal cycle of violence by coming to address this
House. I hope they will be able to take up this offer. We will
welcome them as champions of peace through the hardest times.

I myself am ready, in co-operation with Javier Solana and the
Spanish Presidency, to travel to Ramallah with Knesset Speaker
Avraham Burg and meet with Abu Ala in the Palestinian Legislative
Council, if the circumstances should so permit.

Because the risk is looming closer of all-out conflagration, we
must do everything we can to secure peace.

We must and we will use the democratic platform of our Parliament
to send out the clearest message: for humanity's sake - please stop
the violence, please start the dialogue, and give peace a chance."

Rückfragehinweis:

Brüssel:
David Harley
Tel: 0032-496-599453
Pressesprecher des Präsidenten

Wien:
Monika Strasser
Tel: 01-51617-201
Informationsbüro des Europäischen Parlaments für Österreich
mailto:[email protected]

OTE001 2002-03-13/12:20

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