Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
I am grateful for this opportunity to personally welcome Yossi Beilin, one of the architects of the Geneva Peace Initiative, as well as Elias Zananiri, here in Luxembourg for this seminar on "The Geneva Initiative- In the Post-Arafat Era" at the invitation of the University of Luxembourg.
As you all know, the European Council reaffirmed in October 2003 the need for initiatives from civil society representatives on both sides. It was our understanding that because of its complementarity with the Road Map, the Geneva Initiative could prove instrumental in the implementation of the third and final phase of the road map. This is why the Luxembourg government decided to support the Geneva Initiative.
As we gather here this morning a little bit over one year after the official launching of Geneva Initiative (on 1 December 2003), some immediate questions spring - of course- to mind, namely:
- What has been the impact of this Initiative both on the Israeli and the Palestinian side?
- Where lies its continued relevance?
- And lastly, perhaps, how does "Geneva" see its role in the future?
Mr Beilin and Mr Zananiri will certainly elaborate on all of these points and thereby kick-start the debate this morning. Suffice it for me to say that the past twelve months have not been a "honeymoon period" for the Middle East Peace Process and for the Geneva Initiative. However, in a context of a complete stalemate in the negotiations and the continuation of a deadly cycle of violence, the Geneva Initiative was an important signal of hope and thus deserved every support. It showed that a different way was possible and indeed desired by the populations on both sides!
In the course of the past weeks new opportunities and new hopes have arisen and I strongly believe that these opportunities have to be seized by both parties. Personally I was very much encouraged by the good discussions during the EUROMED Conference in The Hague last week. There are positive signals for cooperation between the parties as well as for a broader political perspective. The reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative is also most timely in the current circumstances. These new channels of communication have to be fully utilised and the promises of cooperation fulfilled.
2005 has to be a year of progress through engagement and we have to pave the way for a full resumption of the political process. Both sides have to fulfill their obligations and work towards the realization of two viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent states, Israel and Palestine, based on the borders of 1967, and living side by side in peace and security.
The key words for the Palestinians are democratization, security reform and law and order and economic recovery. We have to build an architecture of peace through strong and effective institutions. As Nabil Shaath put it last week in The Hague : "What we need now is not only charismatic leaders but above all functioning institutions". The success of Palestinian reforms is therefore of outmost importance. The Palestinians efforts to put an end to terror and to maintain unity in the political transition process are also vital.
On the Israeli side, the key words are facilitation, cooperation and freedom of movement for goods and people. Israel has to show military constraint, work on a coordinated withdrawal from Gaza with the Palestinian Authority, and freeze its settlement activities. It has to facilitate economic recovery at large, not only for Gaza.
The actual problem is not that we do not know what the final status should be. Rather, it is about political will and beyond that, the scope for building majorities and gaining support. Bold measures and actions on both sides are therefore necessary to create much-needed hope among the population. The European Union is doing its part to support this process of reconciliation, reconstruction and return to the peace process - both financially and through technical assistance to the Palestinian civil police and the observation of the elections. Last month the EU endorsed a short term assistance programme focussing on elections, security and budgetary stability of the Palestinian Authority.
There is a need now to continue from a disengagement plan to a permanent status agreement. As you put it yourself, there has to be a way “from Gaza to Geneva". This way has to point firmly in the direction of peace negotiations. We need to actively continue working on the "broader political horizon". In our view, this can be achieved only through the Road Map, through unity in the international community and the end of violence.
For the European Union the Road Map - which builds upon central elements of the Arab League Peace Initiative as well as previous international peace plans - presents the route to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. Allow me therefore to reaffirm the EU's strong attachment to the ongoing work of the Quartet encouraging the parties to act vigorously in the fulfillment of their obligations as outlined in the road map. The Road map may not be perfect in all its aspects but it remains our main reference to realize the "end goal". It has been observed that one of the weaker points of the Road Map is its third phase and I believe that here the contribution of the Geneva Initiative could prove very valuable: namely, in helping the parties to spell out more clearly the parameters of the final phase.
Let me conclude by assuring you that Luxembourg will continue to support all efforts towards a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. In my capacity as President of the EU Council of Ministers I intend to visit both Israel and the Palestinian Territories as early as January. During its upcoming EU Presidency Luxembourg will aim to consolidate the Union's role in the peace process and will continue to work within the Quartet towards a negotiated settlement of this conflict which has disrupted the lives on both sides for too long and has prevented young people with a perspective for their future.
Indeed many problems in this world cannot be solved if only politicians are in charge of finding a solution. Let’s take the example of Ukraine where it is the determination and the will of the population which have put in motion the developments we are presently witnessing.
The Geneva Initiative can of course not be compared to the mass protests in the streets of Ukraine but as in Ukraine any lasting solution in the Middle East must be carried by the people.