Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., on the Situation in the Middle East
“I deplore and condemn the horrific bomb attack in Jerusalem today and extend my sympathies to the families of all those who have been killed and to all who have been injured.
“Ireland, together with our European Union partners, have called repeatedly on all sides to exercise utmost restraint and to curb the escalation in violence. There is much to be lost by sinking deeper into a spiral of attack and retaliation. The commitments given by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to secure a cessation of the violence and to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission must be observed.
“Negotiations towards a comprehensive peace settlement offer the only hope of a way out of the current spiral of violence and the dreadful prospect of a wider conflict in the region. I believe that these events underline the urgent need for a third party monitoring mechanism, which, at this critical time, would serve the interests of both parties.”
Note for Editors:
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is due to visit the Middle East on 9-14 September.
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