Code aims to aid Middle East talks

Date: 02/10/1997

By Mark Turner

THE EU will present Israelis and Palestinians with a 'code of conduct' for future talks next week, giving its role in the Middle East peace process a formal boost.

The code, which was first suggested this summer, “would guarantee that no single incident takes the peace process back to square one”, EU special envoy to the region Miguel Moratinos told European Voice. “We need to know for sure that talks can continue despite terrorist actions.”

Under the EU plan, agreed by Union political directors this week and due for ministerial approval next week, both the Israeli government and the Palestinian authorities would agree to a set of ground rules before sitting down at the negotiating table.

These would include promises not to take any unilateral action which could derail the talks, and to set up a special security committee to ensure continued cooperation in times of crisis.

Both the Palestinians and the Israelis have expressed support for the proposal, and talks between Moratinos and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the idea have also been encouraging.

The Union hopes this measure will highlight its own contribution to the peace process, building on a celebrated July encounter in Brussels between Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat.

But diplomats stress that the Union aims to complement US efforts in the region, not compete with them.

“Given our ending of divisions between east and western Europe, the EU has a certain legitimacy in bringing together elements to facilitate reconciliation,” said Moratinos. “As the saying goes, the US has power but Europe has influence.”

The Union is also keen to shed its image of supporting the Arab side against Washington's pro-Israeli stance. “We have to avoid this simplification,” said Moratinos. “Europe has a privileged relationship with both the Israelis and the Palestinians.”