Attacks in Ashqelon, Jerusalem – EU declaration – Letter from Italy

LETTER DATED 27 FEBRUARY 1996 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF

ITALY TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

On behalf of the European Union I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a declaration of the Presidency of the European Union on the bomb attacks in Jerusalem and Ashqelon, issued on 26 February 1996.

I would be grateful if you could have the text of the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed)  F. Paolo FULCI     

Permanent Representative

Annex

[Original:  English and French]

Declaration of the European Union on the bomb attacks

in Jerusalem and Ashqelon

The European Union expresses its revulsion at the criminal and cowardly attacks perpetrated on 25 February in Jerusalem and Ashqelon.  It condemns in the strongest terms these acts of terrorism.  It sends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Israel and expresses its hopes for the recovery of the wounded.

Decisive action is required by everybody who is in a position to control or combat the terrorist elements opposed to the peace process.  The European Union acknowledges the efforts which the Palestinian Authority and President Arafat have already made to combat terrorism, but urges on them the need to make them more effective and to step up their action in this regard in line with the Oslo agreements.

At this sad moment, the European Union reaffirms its conviction and hope that those in favour of the peace process will continue to take it forward. Otherwise they will play into the hands of the criminals who have committed these and previous attacks and those who oppose the peace process.  The European Union pays tribute to all those courageous leaders who have chosen the way of dialogue and peace and are upholding it and reaffirms its full support for them.

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