A3-0301/94

Resolution on the peace process in the Middle East

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Bertens and others on the peace process in the Middle East (B3-0842/93),

-having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the Middle East and the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security (A3-0301/94),

A.mindful of the signing of the historic agreement between Israel and the PLO in Washington on 13 September 1993, while underlining the importance of further progress between Arab states and Israel in the advancement of the peace process which began at the Madrid Conference, based upon UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338,

B.wishing practical details to be worked out concerning all aspects of the Washington agreement, including the holding of free and direct general elections in accordance with the relevant protocol,

C.whereas this agreement offers real prospects for peace in the Middle East and an opportunity to end the conflict which has affected the region for many years, causing the deaths of thousands of people, the region's economic and social decline and unbelievable suffering for all those involved,

D.whereas, in implementing the agreement, both sides will need to make efforts to overcome the after-effects of years of mutual distrust and hatred, incomprehension and a rejection of dialogue, which have led to murderous violence,

E.whereas all forms of extremism, fanaticism and intolerance represent a real threat to the successful conclusion of this peace agreement, which is an essential factor in ensuring the economic and social recovery that is needed in the countries of the Middle East and which can come about only if all the peoples of the region live together in peaceful cooperation,

F.whereas in this region a regional approach is required, not only to secure supplies of water and food for a rapidly growing population but also in the interests of the arms control which is so very desirable,

G.whereas Europe and its nations have responsibilities in the situation of conflict that has arisen in the Middle East and whereas, therefore, the European Union has a real duty to fulfil and an important role to play in implementing the peace agreement and bringing about the region's economic recovery,

H.convinced that the European Union must play a political role and not only an economic and financial one in the peace process,

I.considering the responsibility oil-producing Arab states have towards their neighbours in supporting regional development, possibly through a Water and Energy Cooperation Community,

1.Welcomes the Declaration of Principles signed on 13 September 1993 in Washington and pays tribute to the courage of all those who have chosen the path of moderation and dialogue and who have, accordingly, laid the foundations for the peaceful co-existence of the peoples of the Middle East and their regional cooperation and stresses that this process must continue and lead to peace agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours;

2.Welcomes the signing in Cairo on 4 May 1994 of the agreement between Israel and the PLO on the implementation of self-rule in the territories of Gaza and Jericho and the signing in Paris on 29 April 1994 of the agreement between Israel and the PLO on future economic relations;

3.Considers that the mutual recognition of the right of Israel to security and normal relations with all her neighbours and the right of the PLO to respect for its right to autonomy and security are essential for peace and that they must be established by direct negotiation between the parties concerned;

4.Calls for the release of all prisoners of war and for immediate access to them by the Red Cross/Crescent, especially to those like Captain Ron Arad of the Israeli Air Force, who has been held incommunicado in an unknown place of detention for over seven years;

5.Hopes that the forces of peace and human rights groups in civil society, both Israeli and Palestinian, will succeed in exerting a positive influence on public opinion in both communities, and believes that they deserve the fullest possible support from Europe;

6.Takes the view that the priority rightly assigned to attaining the objectives stated in the Declaration of Principles signed on 13 September 1993 should not, however, diminish the importance attached to a rigorous policy of safeguarding and promoting human rights, both in the State of Israel and the territories which it is still occupying and in the territories which will be subject to Palestinian self-government during the first stage;

7.Condemns in the strongest possible terms all those, Israelis or Palestinians, who, through acts of violence or intolerance, are jeopardizing implementation of the declaration;

8.Is convinced that dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian people - under conditions of equal dignity - are indispensable in order to build a lasting peace and co-existence, and hopes that every possible effort will be made to this end by the parties concerned and supported by the European institutions;

9.Considers that regional economic cooperation and the political organization of the region are one of the keys to peace and security and that this developing relationship based on mutual cooperation should be further encouraged by the European Union and the international community in playing a guiding and facilitating role;

10.Emphasizes that the water problem alone demonstrates the great inter-dependence of countries in the region and that only an organization of the States concerned is capable of creating the sophisticated common irrigation system required to halt desertification and enable the different countries of the region to produce enough food and to create enough jobs to meet the needs of their populations;

11.Considers that the establishment of a regional community of nations with a common market and elected central institutions, like the European Community, may contribute to the harmonious development of the countries of the Middle East by creating the potential for common economic and social growth and believes that the European Union should do its utmost to encourage such a process;

12.Believes that the peace process should yield immediate and tangible results, particularly to the most disadvantaged and to those who have suffered most in recent decades, in order to free them from the temptations of extremism, which feeds on misery and repression; emphasizes that regional cooperation is also the best guarantor of peace and security in the region and makes it easier to avoid war;

13.Considers that, in view of Europe's historic role in the region, the European Union is duty-bound to play a constructive role in the economic and social recovery of the countries of the Middle East, for example by providing technical and financial aid for the establishment of a Water and Energy Cooperation Community and for the organization of regional development cooperation;

14.Calls for the European Union - in cooperation with other European countries - to give its role in the Middle East a higher political profile, since for the first time in history both parties desire greater European involvement in the region;

15.Welcomes the decision by the Council to adopt a joint action in support of the Middle East peace process and urges the Council and the Commission to implement its programmes of assistance to the peace process included in this joint action as soon as possible;

16.Calls on the Council and Commission to re-examine carefully and in agreement with the parties directly concerned its own role in the various fora in which the follow-up to the Madrid Conference is being pursued, and to report to the European Parliament on the subject;

17.Calls on the Commission to activate and intensify trade agreements with the Territories with a view to promoting exports of their products, and calls on the Israeli authorities to cooperate fully in the implementation of these agreements and to facilitate access to the infrastructure, especially at ports, required to transport the Territories' exports and imports;

18.Welcomes the PLO's intention of moving permanently to Jericho in May, and calls on the Union and its Member States to cooperate as a matter of priority with the new authorities of the Territories in establishing their administrations and developing an education system and social, cultural and health infrastructures;

19.Considers that the oil-producing Arab States must also contribute to this recovery and that, therefore, cooperation is needed between the European Union and those states, inter alia via the establishment of a Euro-Arab bank responsible, among other things, for promoting investment, firstly in the Mashreq countries, the Occupied Territories and Israel, and for developing a Water and Energy Cooperation Community to promote harmonious development in the region, while promoting the establishment of national and regional policies favourable to foreign investment;

20.Reiterates its previous position that continuation of the Arab League's trade boycott of Israel is incompatible with economic cooperation as referred to in the Declaration of Principles of 13 September 1993;

21.Emphasizes the touristic and historical importance of the region; considers that political stability and security in the region are major factors for the development of tourism in the Middle East, while cultural exchanges between peoples may also contribute to the establishment of peace;

22.Calls on the Union and its Member States to promote cultural exchanges and tourism with the countries of the Middle East, inter alia by introducing specific programmes for young people, such as an extension to its Erasmus programme;

23.Considers that the security of the region requires balanced and internationally monitored multilateral disarmament; calls on the nations of the region, in cooperation with the United Nations, to adopt a plan for multilateral disarmament; welcomes the first talks that have taken place between Israel and some of its neighbouring States on this subject;

24.Calls on all nations to support such a disarmament plan and to refrain from selling and/or delivering weapons to Middle Eastern countries except as provided for in that plan;

25.Calls on the UN Security Council and the European Union - so far as its Member States are concerned - to impose harsh sanctions on any country which ignores the Middle East disarmament plan;

26.Calls on all parties concerned to expedite to the maximum implementation of the measures already agreed and negotiation of the subsequent steps, so as not to lose credibility or the positive impetus generated by the agreement of 13 September 1993 and to ensure that vacillation, obstructionism and sabotage do not gain the upper hand;

27.Instructs its ad hoc parliamentary delegation to visit the region as soon as possible in order to ascertain the most urgent and the long-term real needs and to make specific and constructive proposals to be taken into account in the Union's next budget;

28.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Israel, the Palestine National Council, the governments of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt and the UN Secretary-General.