By Amjad baker and Eyad Khalifa
Albawaba.com - Amman
The EU Middle East Envoy Miguel Moratinos has said that the Mideast peace process has reached “a critical junction,” calling on all parties involved to assume their responsibilities and do their best to put the process back on track.
In a statement to Albawaba.com in Amman Monday, the envoy said that “we are at a critical junction, and we really have to look for ways and means to rebuild trust and confidence and move forward.”
He said that the EU considers peace in the region as a “top priority,” saying that Europe is “being extremely active” in pushing the peace process forward and supporting the Palestinian Authority through financial assistance to the Palestinians.
The EU envoy, who is currently in Amman to attend the foreign ministers plenary meetings ahead of the Tuesday Arab summit, hoped that the top Arab meeting would “finalize a clear engagement and commitment to support the European efforts.”
EU’s agenda includes other parties besides Israel and the Palestinians to bring stability back to the region.
“Syria is being a strategic partner in the peace process and without a comprehensive agreement with this country, no solution can survive,” Moratinos said.
The EU envoy is leaving later Monday to Syria to follow up on what he has already started with the Syrians who “showed their deep appreciation and absolute commitment to modernize their country.”
Lebanon is also a key element in the regional stability, as far as the envoy is concerned.
Responding to a question why the EU is not active in protecting the Palestinians against Israeli practices for the past seven months, he said that “we are the only party trying to work with the UN. We have had a meeting with [UN chief] Kofi Annan” to work on saving the region from the consequences of the present situation.
