EU Ambassador: Europe ‘Frustrated’ Over Peace Process

Lars Faaborg-Andersen, the European Union’s (EU) ambassador to Israel, said on Thursday that Europe was “frustrated” over the fact that talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are not progressing.

 

Speaking at Europe Day celebrations at Haifa University, Faaborg-Andersen said, “Any agreement must reflect Israel’s security interests, but there is definitely growing frustration among the EU countries that there is no progress in the peace process.”

 

“We are consistent in supporting a two-state solution primarily because we believe that it is a good solution for Israeli interests,” he continued, adding that the EU understands that the responsibility for the failure to reach an agreement is not Israel’s alone, and that a partner is needed to reach an agreement.

 

At the same time, he said, “We cannot accept steps which move us backwards, especially the issue of settlement construction.”

 

Faaborg-Andersen noted that the EU favors dialogue and is against isolation, and added that the EU expects the new Israeli government to advance the peace process.

 

At the beginning of his remarks the ambassador praised the relationship between Israel and the EU, and said that Israel is the closest partner of the EU.

 

Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195167#.VUzOFc74tFJ

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