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News Releases

No. 65/06
July 31, 2006

LEBANON: EU REACTS TO QANA ATTACK & PREPARES TO ASSESS SITUATION

Reacting today to the news of Israel's attack on Qana, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "Israel’s attack on the city of Qana means an escalation of violence that is unjustifiable at a time when the international community is jointly working to find a solution to the conflict. Immediate cessation of violence and hostilities is now more important than ever. The killings of innocent people, particularly of children, must stop now. We keep supporting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in his efforts and approach to peace and call on all sides to restrain from further violence." Tomorrow, August 1st, the EU Council will also hold an extraordinary meeting to assess the situation in Lebanon and to prepare further EU action following the International Conference on Lebanon in Rome on 26 July.

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, currently President of the Council, will report on their visit to the region after the Rome meeting. The High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana (at right), will also give his assessment following extensive talks in the region and contacts with the EU's main partners.

The Rome meeting agreed to offer Lebanon a major humanitarian package, with both immediate relief and financial support. It addressed the conditions for a ceasefire process and agreed on the scope for deploying an international force in Southern Lebanon. The EU expressed its readiness to play a substantive role in contributing to such a force.

Conference participants expressed their determination to work immediately to reach with the utmost urgency a ceasefire that put an end to the current violence and hostilities. The conference affirmed that the fundamental condition for lasting security in Lebanon is the Government's full ability to exercise its authority over all its territory. It also considered that an International Force in Lebanon should urgently be authorised under a UN mandate to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in providing a secure environment.

For further information, please visit: : http://www.eurunion.org/newsweb/HotTopics/mideast.htm .

 

Press Contact: Anthony Gooch  
  202-862-9523
anthony.gooch@cec.eu.int
 

Further Contact Information
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Delegation of the European Commission
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Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766

 

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European Union - Delegation of the European Commission to the United States
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