BERLIN DECLARATION

(excerpt)

The European Council met in Berlin on 24 and 25 March 1999. Proceedingsopened with an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament,Mr. Jose-Maria Gil-Robles.

The European Council:

• reached an overall agreement on Agenda 2000 (see Part I);

• agreed a declaration on the appointment of the President of the Commission (see Part II);

• adopted two statements on Kosovo (see Part III);

• agreed three other statements on the Middle East Peace Process, the successful conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with South Africa and on enlargement (see Part IV).

PART IV - OTHER DECLARATIONS

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

The Heads of State and Government of the European Unionreaffirm its support for a negotiated settlement in the Middle East, to reflectthe principles of „land for peace" and ensure the security bothcollective and individual of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. In thiscontext, the European Union welcomes the decision by the Palestinian NationalUnion and associated bodies to reaffirm the nullification of the provisions inthe Palestinian National Charter which called for the destruction of Israel andto reaffirm their commitment to recognize and live in peace with Israel. However,the European Union remains concerned at the current deadlock in the peaceprocess and calls upon the parties to implement fully and immediately the WyeRiver Memorandum.

The European Union also calls upon the parties to reaffirmtheir commitments to the basic principles established within the framework ofMadrid, Oslo and subsequent agreements, in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242and 338. It urges the parties to agree on an extension of the transitionalperiod established by the Oslo agreements.

The European Union calls in particular for an earlyresumption of final status negotiations in the coming months on an acceleratedbasis, and for these to be brought to a prompt conclusion and not prolongedindefinitely. The European Union believes that it should be possible to concludethe negotiations within a target period of one year. It expresses its readinessto work to facilitate an early conclusion to the negotiations.

The European Union urges both parties to refrain fromactivities which prejudge the outcome of those final status negotiations andfrom any activity contrary to international law, including allsettlement activity, and to fight incitement and violence.

The European Union reaffirms the continuing and unqualifiedPalestinian right to self-determination including the option of a state andlooks forward to the early fulfilment of this right. It appeals to the partiesto strive in good faith for a negotiated solution on the basis of the existingagreements, without prejudice to this right, which is not subject to any veto.The European Union is convinced that the creation of a democratic, viable andpeaceful sovereign Palestinian State on the basis of existing agreements andthrough negotiations would be the best guarantee of Israel's security andIsrael's acceptance as an equal partner in the region. The European Uniondeclares its readiness to consider the recognition of a Palestinian State in duecourse in accordance with the basic principles referred to above.

The European Union also calls for an early resumption ofnegotiations on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the Middle East Peace Process,leading to the implementation of UNSCRs 242, 338 and 425.

Source: European Union - http://europa.eu.int