EU Presidency declaration on recent Blue Line violations – EU press release/Non-UN document

Brussels, 12 August 2003

12010/03 (Presse 243)

P 98/03

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union

on the recent violations of the blue line

The European Union strongly condemns the renewed attacks by Hezbollah militias against Israeli targets, which have caused the loss of a civilian life and several injured.

The European Union extends its condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the Government of Israel. The EU calls on Lebanon and all other regional players involved to exert their utmost influence to prevent further Hezbollah attacks against Israeli targets.

The European Union calls on all parties to avoid further deterioration of the situation and to fully respect the Blue Line established by the United Nations. In this crucial phase, all sides must exert maximum restraint not to hinder the path outlined in the road map towards peace.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.