Arab League Peace Initiative Follow-up Committee – EU High Representative Ashton’s remarks – EU Press release/Non-UN document

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton

following her address at the opening of the Arab League Peace

Initiative Follow-up Committee

"I have been in Cairo today to speak to President Abbas and the members of the Arab Peace Initiative Committee. I addressed the opening of the Committee meeting upon the invitation of the League of Arab States.

I paid tribute to the successful statebuilding efforts of the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of President Abbas.

My message was clear: at a time when the whole world is focusing on this issue, the EU remains strongly committed to achieving the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security. The only way to do that is through negotiations.

The discussions which will take place at the UN in New York in the coming weeks will be an opportunity to achieve this. I want the Middle East Quartet to play an ambitious role and the international community to maintain strong and united support."

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