FM Rupel reassures the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Malki of commitment to speeding up the Middle East Peace Process

Ljubljana, 9 January

The Middle East Peace Process will continue to be one of the EU’s key political issues during Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency, underlined the current President of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel, after meeting the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Malki on a visit to Ljubljana today.

Minister Rupel said that the Annapolis Conference and the International Donors' Conference for the Palestinian State in Paris, at which the EU and the Member States had pledged EUR 1.5 billion in support for the Palestinian State, had initiated a new era of talks to be conducted by the Israeli and Palestinian Governments in cooperation with the US. The European Union has therefore lately taken a step back while awaiting developments. "We are looking forward with great interest to the outcome of the visit to Israel and Palestine by the United States President George Bush," stressed Minister Rupel, announcing that the issue of the Middle East would remain on the EU’s agenda and that he would consult the Member States on any initiative, which might include a meeting of the Middle East Quartet. However, such matters would certainly be discussed at the GAERC meeting. Minister Rupel assured the Palestinian Minister of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency’s absolute commitment to speeding up the Middle East Peace Process.
The two ministers agreed to regularly exchange information and proposals during Slovenia's EU Council Presidency. They also signed an agreement on diplomatic cooperation between Slovenia and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which will be the basis for relations between the two countries. This comes after Slovenia has opened a representative office in Ramallah, and the PNA accredited a General Delegate to Slovenia.

FM Rupel reassures the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Malki of commitment to speeding up the Middle East Peace Process

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