The 10 member-states of the European Economic Community (EEC) said today that the peaceful solution of the Middle East conflict must include the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and that the Palestine Liberation Organization must be brought into the peace negotiations.
The Foreign Minister of Greece, Yannis Haralambopoulos, addressing the General Assembly on behalf of the EEC, stated, “A lasting peace (in the Middle East) can only be built on the right of all states in the region, including Israel to a secure existence and on justice for all peoples, including the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination with all that this implies. “
The Greek Foreign Minister recalled the Reagan peace initiative of September 1, 1982 and the subsequent Arab summit meeting at Fez, Morocco, declaring “The ten appeal to all the parties in the conflict to move forward from a readiness for peace, which all of them have expressed in the past, toward mutual recognition as partners in genuine negotiations on the basis of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. These negotiations will have to embrace all the parties concerned including, the Palestinian people, and the PLO will have to be associated with them. The threat or use of force must be renounced by all.”
Haralambopoulos criticized Israel for its “policy of gradual annexation” of the West Bank. He said, “In the interest of the search for peace the ten ask Israel to abandon its policy of gradual annexation and of unilaterally creating new facts in the occupied territories, in particular its settlement policy which is contrary to international law and a major and growing obstacle to peace efforts.”
On the issue of Lebanon, the Greek Foreign Minister said that the consequences of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon “are still with us.” But he said the EEC welcomes the cease-fire which was reached Sunday and expressed the hope that the unity of Lebanon will be ensured. He continued:
“They (the EEC) also stress the need for early progress toward the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces, with the exception of those whose presence would be required by the Lebanese government They themselves are ready to work for this objective jointly and individually.”
The Greek Foreign Minister also said that the EEC intends to be closely associated with efforts to bring peace in the Middle East,
DOE EXPLAINS LIBERIA’S TIES WITH ISRAEL
Yesterday, addressing the General Assembly, President Samuel Doe of Liberia explained why his country resumed diplomatic relations with Israel. He said that the ties were resumed because occupied Egyptian territory had been returned to Egyptian sovereignty. Therefore, he said, Liberia felt that the continued isolation of Israel “was no longer useful” in the search for peace in the Middle East.
Doe added that during his visit to Israel last month he conveyed to the Israelis the need for “a decisive move” toward mutual recognition on the part of Israel and the PLO. Doe also said that recognition had to be given to the Palestinian people, including the right to a state of their own.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
