PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN UNION'S COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN UNION'S COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

At a Headquarters press conference this morning, Jacques F. Poos, Vice- President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, speaking in his capacity as the President of the Council of Ministers of the European Union, said that the financial crisis of the United Nations could only be resolved when all its Members fully met their obligations by defraying their arrears and by timely and unconditional payment of their assessed contributions. In that regard, members of the European Union had always met their obligations.

In speaking on the enlargement of the Union, Mr. Poos said that at the European Council meeting to be held in December in Luxembourg there would be decisions made regarding the ways to proceed. These would be the most complex and important negotiations since the establishment of the European Economic Community. Although the decisions at Luxembourg would follow the Madrid Decision regarding the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the two cases were quite distinct. The enlargements would follow their own specific procedures and timetables. The enlargements would not create any new lines of division in the European continent.

The European Union was further developing its relationship with the Russian Federation and the Ukraine, Mr. Poos said. The signing of the Russia/NATO Founding Act establishing the Permanent Joint Council and the holding of the first ministerial-level meeting of the Council tomorrow in New York was therefore welcome.

Regarding the Middle East peace process, Mr. Poos noted that the views of the European Union were very close to those of the United States and the Russian Federation. It recognized the right of Israel to protect itself, particularly against terrorist attacks, and to live within secure frontiers. In order to break the current deadlock in the peace process, he said two conditions -- cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in security matters and resumption of negotiation on the implementation of the interim agreements -- had to be met. The European Union had established an assistance programme to help the Palestinian authorities combat terrorist activities. It had also proposed to both parties that it assist in drafting a code of good conduct that would prevent any unilateral actions that might damage confidence and trust between the parties.

Mr. Poos further said that the European Union regretted Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to resume construction of housing for Israeli settlers in the occupied territories. It had also proposed to the parties the creation of a standing security committee to help ensure that the peace process was not held hostage by extremists and would not be stopped after each incident.

On relations with Iran, Mr. Poos said that despite some positive signs, the European Union remained deeply concerned by Iran's attitude and feared that fundamental changes might occur. If Iran wished to normalize relations with the Union, the return of ambassadors of its member States to Iran would have to occur without discrimination.

Speaking of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Poos said that while the European Union would continue to offer assistance, the implementation of peace agreements was the responsibility of the parties involved. The crisis in the Republika Srpska, an integral part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be resolved by holding elections under the supervision of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The safe return of refugees was also emphasized. On the positive side, the successful holding of municipal elections in Bosnia and the presidential legislative elections in Serbia were noted.

In a recent meeting in New York, the European Union and China had agreed to resume their dialogue on human rights, he said. The Union was prepared to offer technical assistance to China in that area.

Mr. Poos said that his meeting with Yevgeny Primakov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, had taken place in an excellent atmosphere. Agreement was reached on the need to settle the crisis in the Republika Srpska by holding legislative elections. When asked, Mr. Primakov had categorically denied that the Russian Federation was negotiating with Iran to deliver nuclear and missile technology.

Reaffirming the European Union's commitment to the universality of human rights, he said achieving that goal would contribute to peace, stability and economic and social development for all countries.

In responding to a question on Albania, Mr. Poos said the European Union urged the Government of Belgrade to enter into a constructive dialogue about the status of Kosovo. The Albanian majority in Kosovo had taken a very moderate position and it was hoped they would continue to do so. The European Union was prepared to mediate if the concerned parties agreed.

Nothing prevented Cyprus from joining an international organization like the European Union, Mr. Poos said, in responding to a question on the issue of Cyprus. The European Union respected the sovereignty of its member States. It did not understand why Turkey, also a candidate to join the Union, would prevent Cyprus from doing the same. The European Union wanted the whole island to be a member. That would especially benefit the poorer northern part of the island.

While it had a clear position on financial reform of the United Nations, the European Union had no common position on the enlargement of the Security Council, Mr. Poos said in response to another question. He refrained from making a personal comment on the matter.

European Union Briefing - 3 - 25 September 1997

When asked how the European Union viewed the problem in Algeria, Mr. Poos said that it expressed regret at the ongoing massacre of innocent victims. Thus far, the Algerian Government had opposed international mediation. The European Union remained prepared to assist in eradicating the problem of "blind terrorism". The highest Islamic authorities throughout the world should declare that they were against the massacre of innocent persons in the name of Islam.

When asked whether the European Union would ask Mr. Netanyahu to suspend the decision to resume housing construction in the occupied territories, in light of next week's meetings between the Palestinians and Israelis, Mr. Poos said the European Union had consistently maintained that it was necessary to put an end to the settlement of the occupied territories. All such unilateral acts were not constructive. The issue should be put on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers to be held in October.

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