Mideast situation – EC declaration (Luxembourg) – Letter from Italy

Letter dated 6 May 1985 from the Permanent Representative of Italy

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On behalf of the Ten states members of the European Community, the Presidency of which is currently held by Italy, I have the honour to send to you herewith the text of a Declaration on the Arab-Israeli conflict adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ten at the fifty-seventh Ministerial Meeting on European Political Co-operation, held in Luxembourg on 29 April 1985.

I would be grateful if this letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under items 33 and 38 of the preliminary list, and at the Security Council.

(Signed)  Maurizio BUCCI

Ambassador

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*A/40/50/Rev.1.

ANNEX

Declaration on the Arab-Israeli conflict adopted on 29 April 1985

the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ten States members

of the European Community

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ten continue to maintain a close interest in developments in the Middle East. They welcomed recent moves towards a reactivation of the process of negotiations in the search for a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, notably the Jordan/Palestinian agreement reached on 11 February at the initiative of King Hussein which contained a commitment to negotiations for peace in accordance with United Nations resolutions, including the resolutions of the Security Council. In the view of the Ten this represents a constructive step forward. They also welcomed the ideas put forward by the President of Egypt.

The Ten consider that these important initiatives reflect a desire for movement towards a peaceful solution. This deserves encouragement and a positive response.

They confirm their conviction that the achievement of a just and lasting solution calls for the participation and the active support of all the parties concerned. The Ten consider that no effort should be spared to maintain and strengthen the present movement in the peace process and to facilitate a dialogue between all the parties to the conflict.

The Ten reconfirm their willingness to contribute to a comprehensive, just and peaceful settlement of the Middle East question on the basis of the principles which they have stated many times in the past and to which they continue to adhere.

In particular, they recall the rights of all States in the region, including Israel, to existence and security, and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, with all that this implies. With regard to the association of the PLO with the negotiations, the Ten refer to their well-known positions. In their contacts with all the parties concerned. the Ten, both collectively and individually, will work to promote the reconciliation of the various positions.

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