SPAIN: France has failed to persuade EU foreign ministers to adopt its initiative to revive the peace process in the Middle East. But the ministers, meeting in the Spanish city of Caceres, agreed to discuss the proposals along with other ideas when they meet in Brussels later this month.
The French Foreign Minister, Mr Hubert Vedrine, wants recognition of a Palestinian state as a starting point for peace negotiations. He also wants the Palestinian Authority to call elections to its national assembly in order to achieve a mandate to seek peace.
The weekend meeting was not designed to agree conclusions but it was clear that many EU member-states have doubts about the French plan. A consensus emerged, however, that the EU should seek to restore political activity rather than security issues to the foreground of the debate on the Middle East.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said it was clear that the focus on security issues was failing to bring peace to the region.
"What we're really talking about here is the European Union putting forward and emphasising the political track, the importance of emphasising that security can only be secured for both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples on the basis of a peace process that succeeds. The fact of the matter is that we are in an impasse at the moment in relation to the peace process and the European Union has a view that political ideas are important, they're the best way forward. That requires political activity and the sole focus on security issues won't bring peace in the Middle East," he said.
Although ministers avoided criticising the US policy towards the Middle East, the EU's emphasis on politics rather than security is at odds with Washington's position. President Bush agrees with the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, that violence must end before meaningful talks can begin.
Spain's Foreign Minister, Mr Josep Piqué, acknowledged the US was a key player in the search for peace but he said that political action was needed now.
"The Middle East needs an economic and political perspective, even if there is not 100 per cent security," he said.
Ministers sought to play down talk of a foreign policy rift between the EU and the US following remarks by the External Affairs Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, describing as unhelpful Mr Bush's identification of an "axis of evil" comprising Iran, Iraq and North Korea.
But the EU's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, warned the US against pursuing a policy of isolationism in world affairs.
"I don't think the problems of today can be solved in a unilateralist manner," he said.
Mr Cowen acknowledged that the EU and the US disagreed on some issues, particularly in their approach to Iran. He said he opposed further military action in the war against terrorism at present. "The EU decides its own relations with these countries. We work in partnership with the US on a whole range of issues."
David Horovitz adds from Jerusalem: The Palestinian Authority is somewhat divided over the EU initiative. On the one hand, officials are welcoming the fact that Europe is dissenting from the US in its vigorous support of Mr. Arafat. On the other hand, aides to Mr Arafat say they see no pressing need for elections now and that, in seeking statehood, they want Israel to withdraw to its pre-1967 borders. Israel has flatly rejected the EU initiative, the Yediot Ahronot tabloid reported.
