PES Delegation in the Middle East: Annapolis Conference must put peace process back on track – democratic forces in Lebanon have unconditional PES support 

6 November 2007

A PES Delegation chaired by Carin Jämtin, PES Presidency member responsible for the Middle East, and Luciano Vecchi, PES Presidency member responsible for Development policy, visited Israel, Palestine and Lebanon on 1-4 November, 2007 to meet with government, party representatives, EU and UNIFIL officials. 

Members of the delegation held intense discussions with a range of high level politicians on the planned Annapolis international conference including EU special envoy for the Middle East peace process Marc Otte, Israeli LP Knesset members Colette Avital and Ephraim Sneh, Yahad-Meretz Leader Yossi Beilin and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv Yael Dayan, former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Korei, Chief negotiator for the Annapolis conference, and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council including Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative. 

Carin Jämtin declared “We saw hope for the region: the Annapolis conference must put the Middle East peace process back on track. There is no time to waste, there is a real danger that despair among ordinary people will play into the hands of those who would destroy the peace process. The Annapolis conference must result in negotiations being opened with a clear timetable, and with concrete improvements of the situation on the ground for the Palestinians”.

In Lebanon, the delegation met Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, PSP Leader Walid Jumblatt, UNIFIL officials, the Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, and representative of the Amal movement. The PES reiterated its support for the 14th March coalition in seeking Presidential elections, for a free, sovereign and democratic Lebanon and the centrality of the EU role in the UNIFIL mission. The PES Delegation also had a very moving meeting with the 14th March coalition Parliament members, who for the last forty days are living under protection in the Hotel Phoenicia in Beirut, unable to move for fears for their security. 

Carin Jämtin stated: “We support the democratic right of the Lebanese parliamentarians to choose the new President of the country. The opposition can’t delay the process or try to boycott the voting procedure.” She added “External interference in the process is totally unacceptable. The message must be heard in Damascus!”

Luciano Vecchi, PES Presidency member said “The European Union must take its role in the current development of the Middle East by supporting the peace process, for the future of Israel and Palestine and by committing to the democratic development of Lebanon. The EU must be present at political and diplomatic levels as in economic, social, humanitarian and security aspects. It is in all of our interests and would permit positive progress for the region.”  

The PES delegation included Carin Jämtin former Minister, Vice Oppositional Mayor of Stockholm, Swedish Social Democrats, Luciano Vecchi, International Secretary of the Italian Democrats of the Left, Ann Linde, International Secretary of the Swedish Social Democrats and PES Adviser Yonnec Polet.

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