Press Communique
FORMER US ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST DENNISROSS
BRIEFS NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS
Ambassador Dennis Ross, former US special envoy to the
Middle East, strongly advocated a re-engagement of the US administration
in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in front of some 70members of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Washington DC. “But we should do it
for good reasons”, Ross stressed, “not simply because we believe it would
help to solve the situation in Iraq”.
Ambassador Ross reiterated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, besides
imposing great sufferance to these two peoples, was gravely souring the
overall situation in the region, damaging the image of the US and
“sending a message of indifference” to the peoples of the Middle East. He
indicated that any new initiative on the part of the US in the region,
including a “Madrid 2” conference, should be carefully prepared,
diplomatically and politically.
The former US envoy offered three possible options to be pursued by the
US together with its allies. Firstly, imposing a serious ceasefire,
whereby Palestinians stop all attacks against Israel, and Israelis stop
military incursions and targeted killings. “Israeli and Palestinian
security services”, said Ross, “need to work together on this”. Secondly,
launching a national referendum among Palestinians on a 2-state solution.
“A solution”, Ross explained, “that cannot be taken for granted anymore
in the Middle East”, given the positions of Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran on
Israel. Thirdly, negotiating with Syria a cut-off of its support to
Hezbollah and Hamas in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan
Heights.
With regard to Syria and Iran, Ambassador Ross also commented on some of
the recommendations of the recently published Iraqi study group report.
“The US”, he warned, “should negotiate with them with open eyes”, because
concessions would have to be granted to them on other issues. “They can
be spoilers rather than fixers in the region”, Ross stressed.
Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping US involvement in the
Middle East peace process during the first Bush and the Clinton
administrations. He delivered his comments at the Transatlantic
Parliamentary Forum organised by the NATO PA, the Atlantic Council of the
United States, the National Defense University and gathering legislators
from NATO and partner countries on a yearly basis to discuss
transatlantic security issues with US administration and Congress
representatives, as well as the policy community in Washington,
DC.
For further information,
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e-mail:
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NATO Parliamentary Assembly
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Background
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, founded in 1955 with a
Brussels-based secretariat,
brings together 248national parliamentarians from the 26 NATO countries.
In addition, 13 associate delegations from Central and Eastern Europe,
Ukraine and Russia;
4Mediterranean Associate delegations: Morocco, Algeria, Jordan,
Israel
and 8 Parliamentary Observer delegations participate in Assembly
activities and meetings.