Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The international meeting taking place in Annapolis today represents a crucial opportunity to restore momentum to the Middle East peace process. The Government and its partners in Europe have strongly supported the preparatory work for the meeting and the political dialogue between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas. It is important that these discussions now lead to meaningful and urgent final status negotiations for a lasting and just two-state solution. The negotiations will have to address the most sensitive issues at the heart of the conflict, including borders, settlements, security, refugees and the status of Jerusalem. This should provide the opportunity for serious movement towards a comprehensive regional settlement, building on the historic Arab peace initiative which was launched in Beirut in 2002 and reaffirmed by the Arab summit in Riyadh in March this year.

The European Union will have an important role to play in the coming months, working directly with the parties and as an active member of the international Quartet. The Government has for some time been among those member states that have sought to strengthen the Quartet and the European Union's role in it. Depending on developments, it may be that a proposal for the establishment of a permanent secretariat could be considered to add focus to the work of the Quartet. The Government would judge any such proposal on the contribution it might make to the achievement of the strategic objective of a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

To be credible the renewed political process must be bolstered in the weeks ahead by decisive action to improve the daily lives of the people most directly affected by the conflict. This must involve an end to all violence in and from the occupied territories, a genuine freeze on the building of settlements and the lifting of checkpoints. Prisoner releases will also make a vital contribution to the reduction of tensions. We are strongly of the view that the two-state solution is the only viable option, a point I made recently at a meeting of EuroMed in Lisbon.

The Government is particularly concerned by the humanitarian situation facing the 1.4 million people living in Gaza and by the serious disruption to vital economic activity in the territory. We have called for the ending of all policies aimed at isolating the people of Gaza and for the urgent re-opening of crossing points for people and goods. We strongly agree with the statement of the UN Secretary General that the interruption of essential services to the civilian population would be contrary to Israel's obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and to its own interests.

See this speech in context