Solana's 'message to the Arab world' - 2002 
| Solana's 'message to the Arab world' - 2002 | |
| Israel |
| Written by Chris Perver |
| Sunday, 13 May 2007 17:00 |
| I was searching for some news regarding the meeting between leaders of the Arab League and the European Union, which is taking place today in Brussels. While searching for that, I came across the following article, written by Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy. The article is not dated (I think it might be from 2002), but I found its contents particularly interesting. The letter, which was printed in member countries of the Arab League prior to a summit held in Beyrouth, outlines EU support for the Arab League initiative. The Arab plan offers wide recognition of Israel in return for a withdrawal to the 1967 armistice lines and a "right of return" for Palestinians displaced since 1948. But what surprised me most about this letter, is Solana's self-congratulatory style of writing and his call for a "global solution" to this conflict. His letter is entitled "My message to the Arab world" (note: "My message" and not "The EU's message"), and he states, "I see my presence both as a clear signal and as an expression of hope". Quote: "The European Union's commitment will remain . We stand ready to help in many ways. We work for the resumption of dialogue. Ambassador Moratinos, together with the Special Envoy of the Russian Federation and the UN Special Coordinator, is currently supporting the efforts of the US Special Envoy. As for myself, I continue my regular consultations with all international actors involved. We remain convinced that a third party monitoring mechanism would help and stand ready to participate. I thought those words of Solana were extremely interesting. Although we can't know who the Antichrist will be, we are told in Scripture that he will magnify himself in his heart (Daniel 8:25), and later exalt himself and magnify himself above every god (Daniel 11:36). Solana clearly sees both his presence and that of the EU as playing a major role in the resolution of this conflict. 5 years has past since this article was written, and today, EU leaders are meeting their counterparts in the Arab League to discuss the way forward. Quote: ""It is important that the talks process ... can be kept stable so that such a peace initiative has the chance to prevail," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. "The Palestinian side need to be sure that the negotiations are moving towards an independent state, living in peace side by side with Israel. The Israeli side need a political horizon which includes security and no violence," he told reporters before chairing talks with his EU counterparts. He added that while the EU had invited the Arab ministers this time round, they would invite Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to their meeting next month. Source EU, EU Business |
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