Tampere EU meeting sees Gaza truce as start for peace process
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The cease fire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinians, which has held reasonably well for close to two days, raised hopes of a resumption of the peace process.
At the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (EUROMED) in the Finnish city of Tampere, the truce in Gaza was seen as a promising start for a new Mideast peace process.
"For the first time in a long time we are seeing a ray of hope in the peace process", said Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, who is presiding over the meeting.
"We also need progress on the political front if the cease fire is to hold", Tuomioja noted. He nevertheless said that he was happy with efforts by the Palestinians to convene a new government of national unity.
"We have signs that everyone, Hamas included, would be ready for a government that meets conditions set by the international community."
In spite of the cease fire in Gaza, which began early on Sunday, two rockets were fired into Israel on Monday morning. Israeli forces, meanwhile, killed two Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was in Tampere on Monday, said that he was hopeful, even though he felt that the cease fire was just a first step. He also said that he hoped that a cease fire could take place in the West Bank.
"There is hope, even though the cease fire has been in force only two days", Livni said, commenting on the possibilities for progress in the peace process.
According to Livni, Israel agreed to the cease fire in Gaza because it wanted to send a message to moderate Palestinians.
Europe’s role in the Middle East has grown in recent years, and Livni feels that relations between the EU and Israel are improving.
"Israel and the EU have similar interests, and Israel is more open to Europe", Livni said.
At the Tampere meeting the idea arose that the EU should take a more visible role in the Middle East peace process.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.11.2006 - TODAY |
 Tampere EU meeting sees Gaza truce as start for peace process |
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