Ashton leads Middle East shuttle diplomacy

Feature discusses the EU's role in the Middle East Peace Process in the context of a visit by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in September 2011, a week before the Palestinian Authority was threatening to seek statehood recognition at the UN.

Commentators noted that if Catherine Ashton was able to defuse the combustible dispute over statehood recognition she would be in line for credit, potentially reversing her existing poor international standing. However, many felt the challenges were too great.

ESO: Background information: Sarkozy calls for united EU voice on Palestinian statehood http://www.europeansources.info/record/sarkozy-calls-for-united-eu-voice-on-palestinian-statehood/

EU: EEAS: The EU and the Middle East Peace Process http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Ashton in bid to save Middle East peace talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/ashton-in-bid-to-save-middle-east-peace-talks/

An-Nahar, 21.9.11: Europe stuck in the middle of the road (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/article/971551-europe-stuck-middle-road

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