Written Answers - Middle East Peace Process.
50 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, he has had with the Israeli authorities in relation to ongoing Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem which is in direct conflict with the Oslo accords. [14746/97]
Comment on this
73 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the current difficulties in the Middle East peace process; the representations, if any, the Government has made to the Israeli authorities regarding the increased incursions by Israeli settlers into Arab land in East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/97]
Comment on this
74 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current status of the Middle-East peace process; and the action, if any, colleagues in the EU General Affairs Council have been taking to advance this process. [14615/97]
Comment on this
91 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions or contacts, if any, he has had with the Palestinian Authorities in recent weeks; and the action, if any, he proposes to take in relation to the determination of the advancement of the MEPP. [14659/97]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 73, 74 and 91 together.
I attach the greatest importance to the full implementation of the Middle East Peace Process in accordance with the Oslo Agreement of September 1993. It was, accordingly, with considerable dismay that I noted the gradual slowing down of the process since early this year. Continued Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem, the closure of the border between Israel and the Palestinian administered territories, and the refusal by Israel to reimburse the Palestinian authority taxes collected on its behalf following the recent terrorist atrocities — which I have condemned — effectively brought the process to a standstill by last month.
At the UN last week, I drew attention in my statement to the general assembly to the dangers arising from the current impasse in the peace process and the need for all the parties to put the process back on track.