MIDDLE EAST: British prime minister Tony Blair and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas have hailed a new international consensus on "the foundation stones" for a future Palestinian state.
They were speaking after yesterday's London meeting in support of the Palestinian Authority concluded with a 17-page communique covering key agreements on the putative Palestinian state's governance, security and economic and social development.
Mr Blair acknowledged the meeting was no substitute for a peace conference and the negotiation which must come between the Palestinians and the Israelis. But he asserted that without the "practical steps, the foundation stones" agreed yesterday, the goal of a sovereign, democratic and territorially contiguous Palestinian state existing side-by-side with Israel would not be realised.
The absence of Israeli representatives had prompted widespread scepticism about yesterday's gathering in the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre. However, its prestige and significance were ensured by the presence of Mr Abbas, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, UN secretary general Kofi Annan, representatives of the World Bank, IMF and delegations from 23 countries.
In his opening remarks to the meeting, Mr Annan congratulated Mr Blair for his "timely initiative".
At its conclusion Mr Abbas thanked Mr Blair for his commitment to the Middle East peace process, and gave a strong indication that yesterday's event had helped reduce the Palestinian sense of isolation.
"We used to believe that we were alone in the region," he said, declaring his confidence now "that the international community is interested in this cause."
Mr Blair also stressed his belief that conflict in the Middle East is the most important challenge facing the international community; that resolving it was crucial to the security of Britain and countries around the world; and that failure to do so had provided much of "the poison" in international relations.
"Right around the world - in Britain, in Europe, elsewhere - not just in Israel and the Palestinian territories in the Middle East, this is the issue that causes as much misunderstanding, division, concern, worry as virtually any other in the whole of the international community," said Mr Blair. He continued: "If we are able to make progress on it, that is relevant and of interest of course primarily to the Palestinian people, to the Israeli people. It is also a major part in securing the security and stability of countries like Britain, of the EU and the whole of the rest of the world.
"Much of the poison we want to take out of international relations has swirled around as a result of the failure to make progress on this issue." In his opening statement, Mr Abbas said the conference addressed the Palestinian need "to find a stable atmosphere to open political paths to put an end to violence and counter-violence". He said his people were going to "put our house in order" and address their commitments in the peace process, as in the "road map": "We have only one demand and that is reciprocity according to the 'road map'."
He also promised a Palestinian state would be based on the rule of law and "institutions governed by modern rules and an independent judiciary".
Among the key points agreed yesterday were that the Palestinian Authority would streamline its security and intelligence services while the Americans will set up the security co-ordinating group. Dr Rice confirmed US Lieut Gen William Ward would "relocate" to the region shortly.
The EU will assist the Palestinian Authority in establishing new institutions of government. The international community would provide financial and technical advisers for planned elections, as well as training for prison staff and advice for those in the new judicial system.
The authority would take action to fight corruption and create a business-friendly environment and a World Bank conference will be held later this year to encourage investment.
Dr Rice praised Israel's "historic step" to disengage from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank later this year; insisted Israel must take no actions that would prejudice a final settlement and also help ensure a new Palestinian state was truly viable; and called on Arab countries to crack down on militant groups who target Israel.
Deaglán de Bréadún adds: A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said Ireland was not invited to participate in the London conference but was represented by the EU Troika. "The EU is participating as a member of the Quartet [which also includes the UN, US and Russian Federation]. The Government is represented by the EU Troika which consists of Luxembourg, Britain, the Council Secretariat and the Commission. The Troika represents the EU's interests and keeps EU partners, including Ireland, informed," the spokesman added.