ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - Croatia supports the proposal for an international peace conference on the Middle East, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday, calling on both warring sides to find a peaceful solution
with mutual respect for the right to a peaceful life in one's own state.
ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - Croatia supports the proposal for an
international peace conference on the Middle East, the Croatian
Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday, calling on both
warring sides to find a peaceful solution with mutual respect for
the right to a peaceful life in one's own state. #L#
"Croatia supports Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's suggestion
on organising a conference on the Middle East as a reasonable and
valuable contribution to efforts aimed at calming down tensions in
the region, establishing a lasting peace and finding a final
solution to the Palestinian issue through the establishment of a
Palestinian state," the Ministry's statement notes.
Croatia also supports the efforts by Spain, currently chairing the
European Union, and European Commission President Romano Prodi to
call for an urgent international conference on the Middle East,
which would gather Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the USA, the
EU, the U.N., Russia and the Arab states, the statement continues.
Israel's Prime Minister Sharon on Sunday proposed organising a
Middle East peace conference, to be held under the auspices of the
United States. Along with Israel, the conference would include
several Arab states and the Palestinian Authority, however, Jaser
Arafat would not represent the Palestinians, according to Sharon's
proposal. According to a statement by US Secretary of State Colin
Powell, the conference could be held at the ministerial level with
the participation of a high ranking delegation of the Palestinian
Authority.
As a country that itself experienced aggression and had to fight for
its independence and as a member of the U.N. Commission for Human
Rights, Croatia calls for the renewal of negotiations that will
"fully respect the right of all to a peaceful and secure life in
one's own state", and calls on "both sides to come to a peaceful
solution to the conflict".
The statement notes that each state, including Israel, has the
right to protect its people from terrorists but at the same time
warns of the danger of military activities that could lead to
further destabilisation and possible conflicts on a much larger
scale.
"The Republic of Croatia strongly condemns terrorist and suicide
attacks on Israel and the Israeli people," the ministry says, also
pointing to the fact that "UN Resolution 1397 of March 13, 2002
clearly confirms the right of the Palestinians to their own state",
which can only be achieved through political dialogue.
(hina) sp rml