Luxembourg FM criticizes new Israeli settlements

By KUNA

Brussels : The foreign minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, criticized Monday construction of new Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands as a “provocation” which will complicate the continuation of the negotiations for a settlement, Speaking to reporters ahead of the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels this morning, Asselborn called on Egypt to continue its mediation efforts to end the violence in Gaza.


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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved Sunday expansion of the illegal Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967, by the construction of 750 housing units.

On his part, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana who last week visited the Middle East and held talks with Egyptian, Palestinian, and Israeli officials said “our efforts will continue to try to ‘take’ the process forward.

” “We hope that the violence in Gaza will stop and negotiations continue,” Solana told reporters.

On Iran, Asselborn noted the contradictory statements from Tehran whether to continue talks on the nuclear issue with the EU or not.

The Luxembourg foreign minister said he supported the statements by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki who said on Sunday that his country is ready to start nuclear talks with the EU under the right conditions.

Last week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted saying that Iran would only negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency after the UNSC passed a third resolution on the Islamic Republic.

The EU Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss developments in the Middle East, Western Balkans, Georgia, and Zimbabwe during their meeting here today.

However, their main task would be to prepare the agenda and conclusions for the summit meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

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