Ambassador's Corner
WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR JOHN BRUTON
April 11, 2006
Middle East Peace Process
In the last few weeks, I have been having discussions with members of both
Houses of Congress about the difficult situation that has arisen in the
Middle
East Peace Process following the victory of
Hamas in the Palestinian elections.
The elections were free and fair, but the result has caused concern in many
quarters. I have been telling members of Congress that the European Union wishes
to stay in very close consultation with the United States, and with the other
members of the Quartet [EU, US, UN & Russia], in our response to the evolving situation. We have set
down clear principles which we wish Hamas to respect:
- Eschewing the use of violence as a means of settling the
conflict;
- Recognizing the state of Israel; and
- Observing the agreements signed between the Palestinians and Israel.
In his
speech to the European Parliament, the EU High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Javier Solana
(pictured, left), has said that the program of Hamas as presented "does not give any clear indication that the Hamas government
is prepared to respect" these principles.
He went on to set out the European Union's position:
"The EU should continue to press both sides to commit themselves to a negotiated
two-state solution. It must be pointed out that, in the EU's contention, peace
should be based on observance of the 1967 borders and only territorial
adjustments (to the 1967 borders) agreed by both sides will be acceptable."
He said that the European Union was reviewing its programs of direct aid to the
Palestinian Authority in light of the Hamas election victory, but that the EU
would continue its aid for the Palestinian people. He added:
"Another of the EU's key aims is to maintain the Palestinian Authority’s
institutional fabric, which we have put so much money into building and whose
continuity is crucial if the creation of an independent, democratic, viable
Palestinian state is one day to become a reality."
He added:
"The EU must continue to reject unilateral methods which may jeopardize the
two-state solution."
He underlined the fact that:
"Under international humanitarian law, Israel has a number of duties as an
occupying power. Basically, it must facilitate transport of humanitarian aid to
the Palestinian population. Over and above a strict interpretation of that duty,
Israel must also facilitate movement in the Occupied Territories, so as to allow
economic sustainability, without compromising the security of Israelis."
He also remarked:
"Another obligation is for Israel to transfer to the Palestinian Authority the
revenue from customs duties and taxes which it collects on its behalf. This is
Palestinian money, which cannot be withheld."
Javier Solana's speech was a very important one and is fully in line with the
principles of the Road Map for peace in the Middle East.
The full text of his speech can be accessed on the website of the EU Council at
http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/discours/89164.pdf .
Congressional Meetings
Last Week, I had a very interesting meeting with Senator Chuck Hagel of
Nebraska (pictured, right). He is one of a number of the leading figures spoken of as a possible
Presidential candidate in 2008. Senator Hagel delivered a very thoughtful speech
on the Middle East last November at the Council on Foreign Relations. We
discussed the Middle East and also the recent US Agreement with India. Senator
Hagel recently established a Health Care Reform Commission in his home state of
Nebraska to come forward with ideas on this challenging topic.
I met
Congressman Joseph Crowley of New York (pictured, left). Joe has recently been appointed to
the Europe Subcommittee of the House Committee on International Relations and
has been deeply involved in the Irish Peace Process. One of his interesting
initiatives was offering free glaucoma testing in his district. Glaucoma is a
preventable condition and timely testing for it is most important.
I suggested to Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii (pictured below), a member of the Agriculture
Committee of the House, that it would be in the interest of the United States to
give full effect to the
1998 Veterinary Equivalence Agreement with the European
Union. This would help US
exports by eliminating duplicative testing of American
food products for the European market and vice versa. Congressman Case was
receptive. He said that he supported a comprehensive
world trade agreement and
was appreciative of the joint efforts of the United States and the EU to combat
the theft of
intellectual property. He is very proud of the agricultural exports
of his state of Hawaii and presented me with some Hawaiian-grown Macadamia Nuts
and Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee.
Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona (pictured below) has strong objections to wasteful government
expenditure, and every week on his website he publishes an example of wasteful
expenditure entitled "egregious earmark of the week." He worked as a volunteer
in Namibia in Africa prior to entering Congress. His experience has led him to
question economic sanctions as a means of
changing the policies of nations. I
raised with him the need to grant visa-free entry to the US for citizens of the
ten EU countries that do not yet enjoy that privilege.
I was delighted to have the opportunity of meeting with the powerful Chairman of
the Agriculture Committee of the House of Representatives, Bob Goodlatte of
Virginia (pictured below). He is immensely knowledgeable about agricultural and trade policy but
is also a specialist on the internet and high technology. I underlined to him
the substantial offer that the European Union has made to break the deadlock in
the world trade talks. He told me that increased
agricultural market access was
crucial to obtaining support in Congress for the outcome of the trade round.
Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island (pictured below) is in the Senate since 1999. He has a
well-established record as a man who thinks for himself on important issues.
Before entering politics he studied classics at Brown University. Senator Chafee
was apprenticed as a blacksmith in Kentucky and worked on the harness tracks in
Edmonton and Calgary in Canada. He said he favored urgent action by the European
Union and the United States to break the log jam building up in the peace
process in the Middle East. He is committed to a viable two-state solution and
that requires concessions from both sides.
My final meeting of the week was with Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa
(pictured below). Tom is the
Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and therefore a key shaper of US agricultural and trade policy. He is a strong supporter of payments
to farmers to improve the environment, without artificially increasing
production. He also strongly supports food aid and believes that, in some
circumstances, it is important to be able to deliver food directly to people who
are hungry rather than simply give out cash to buy food. I also stressed to
Senator Harkin the extensive nature of the proposals that the European Union has
made on agriculture in the world trade talks.
Visit to Arizona
This week I am visiting Arizona to address the American Bankers Association in
Phoenix, meet the Arizona Insurance Commissioner, speak to the Valley
Partnership and the World Affairs Council and talk with students of Arizona
State University.
Frank McCourt and Mary Banotti
My wife Finola and I were delighted to have lunch last week with the bestselling
Irish-American author, Frank McCourt. Frank was raised in very difficult
circumstances in Limerick, but went on to become a successful teacher in New
York and most recently the author of the world-famed Angela’s Ashes, 'Tis and
Teacher Man, all autobiographical works. He told us he was now working on a
novel. We were joined at the lunch with Frank by our very good friend, Mary Banotti, former Member of the European Parliament, candidate for the
Presidency of Ireland and grand-niece of Michael Collins.
Next to the Ambassador--Left to Right: Mary Banotti, Finola Bruton & Frank
McCourt
Please send me your
comments about this or any of my weekly messages or other EU matters. I
look forward to hearing from you!
John Bruton
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