POPE WANTS MIDEAST PEACE REVIVED

Pope, Abbas hail moves to revive Mideast peace process
2007/4/25 - VATICAN CITY, AFP

Pope Benedict XVI and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday hailed moves to revive the Middle East peace process, a Vatican statement said. The two, in a cordial meeting, in particular appreciated the commitment, thanks also to the help of the international community, to the relaunching of the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians, the statement said.

The pope and Abbas also discussed the internal Palestinian situation, referring to, among other subjects, the difficulties faced by Catholics and to the value of their contribution to that society, the statement said. The audience lasted just 12 minutes and took place in English without interpreters, Vatican pool reporters said. The Palestinian leader, who arrived in Rome late Monday, has met Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and was to meet Tuesday evening with Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Abbas also met Tuesday with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, who said afterward: All that goes towards unity and towards peace ... is very positive.

He added: There are so many initiatives, by Arab countries as well as the Quartet, and especially the periodical meetings begun between the president of the Israeli government and (Abbas) that are positive steps. Let's hope they bear the desired fruits.The Middle East Quartet comprises the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States. The Palestinian leader began a European tour on April 17 to appeal for a resumption of aid from the European Union, suspended after Hamas militants came to power in March 2006.

Abbas has met before with Benedict, in December 2005, when he invited the pontiff to visit Jerusalem, giving him a symbolic Palestinian passport.

Ban seeks Syrian role in Mideast peace
Calls for constructive role in Lebanon
By Betsy Pisik - The Washington Times APR 25,07

DOHA, Qatar -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Damascus today to ask Syrian leaders to play a constructive role in the Middle East peace process and to press for the acceptance of an international tribunal to pursue the killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Mr. Ban said that despite the brevity of the seven-hour visit, he hopes to win assurances that Syrian President Bashar Assad will use his power for good.I [want to] be assured of his strong commitment to work for peace and security in the region and to do whatever Syria can constructively to bring peace and stability in Lebanon, Mr. Ban told The Washington Times.He said he would also seek Syrian cooperation with Security Council resolutions designed to disarm Hezbollah, end Syria's influence in Lebanon and establish a tribunal of international character to try suspects accused of political assassinations in Beirut.

Mr. Ban, who traveled to the region on Sunday to attend a democracy-building conference in Qatar, plans to talk with Mr. Assad and other senior Syrian leaders.It will be his second visit within a month to Syria, which he hopes will use its considerable influence in the region to stabilize Lebanon, slow Iran's headlong pursuit of a nuclear program and calm Hamas' deteriorating relationship with Israel.
Hamas, the leading partner in the Palestinian unity government, declared on Sunday that it would resume hostilities against Israel after an official hiatus.I was dismayed to hear Hamas will resume fighting against the Israelis. Mr. Ban said during the interview in his suite at the Qatar Four Seasons Hotel. I urge both sides to refrain from taking measures against the other.There is a great deal of expectation from the international community of the Palestinian unity government, he added, lamenting the deaths of nine Palestinians in weekend fighting with Israeli forces.

Nonetheless, Mr. Ban said, Hamas should reform their policy so that the international community, including myself and the United Nations, can have trust and faith in them. I know there are different expectations, interpretations, of how they will reform their policies, Mr. Ban said, but I have been repeatedly urging ... the international community to encourage this fragile peace process in the Middle East.

U.S. sanctions tightened

The secretary-general's visit comes just hours after the State Department announced new sanctions against 14 foreign government agencies, people and corporations thought to be aiding terrorism in the region.The move, which is largely symbolic because of already existing sanctions and restrictions, is aimed at curtailing support for Syrian and Iranian missile technology and weapons of mass destruction capabilities.The sanctions prohibit the awarding of U.S. assistance, government contracts or export licenses to the entities, and may be reviewed at any time over the next two years.Mr. Ban who has repeatedly counseled all parties to resolve their differences though diplomacy and politics rather than economic or military means said he hopes Mr. Assad will make a credible commitment to working with the international community.

He also wants to discuss the smuggling of arms into Lebanon, which is a violation of Security Council regulations. The Syrians and Lebanese insist this is not happening, but Israel has offered what it describes as proof.Damascus has objected to the international tribunal on the Hariri assassination, saying that Syria is not responsible for the killing of the former prime minister and two dozen others, but is committed to finding and prosecuting anyone who was involved.Syria is a key financial backer of the Lebanese political and paramilitary group Hezbollah, which is protesting the tribunal from inside Lebanon.Chief U.N. legal adviser Nicolas Michel was just in Lebanon to discuss the tribunal and try to find a way for the deeply divided Lebanese government to support it.Mr. Ban said he spoke to Mr. Michel on Sunday morning and found him still not optimistic. A U.N. investigation has repeatedly implicated high-ranking Syrian officials in the February 2005 bombing of Mr. Hariri's motorcade.Mr. Ban acknowledged that Security Council resolutions calling for Hezbollah to disarm and for Syria to work with the tribunal have not been well received in Syria, but he said that should not matter.This is not a matter of what one wishes to or not, he said. The Security Council resolution is a binding one, and each and every member state has an obligation to fully implement it.

ME Peace Vital: Pakistan Denies Move to Recognize Israel
By Maria A Khan Pakistan Times Diplomatic Correspondent APR 25,07

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to play a role in the Middle East and willing to hold out any assurance if it could lead to peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue, said the Foreign Office spokesperson on Monday.The issue was raised at a weekly press briefing after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected on Sunday President Pervez Musharraf’s mediation offer. Pakistan has made recognition of Tel Aviv conditional to creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

Asked how Pakistan could step in to help resolve this lingering issue, given the fact that it does not recognise Israel, the spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam said, It was at the request of Muslim leaders that President Pervez Musharraf met the heads of Islamic states which finally led to a meeting in Islamabad of seven foreign ministers from the OIC. President Musharraf's initiative came at a time when the situation in the Middle East was fast deterioting all around.

There has been positive development as a result of the Musharraf initiative. There has been reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, the Iranian president visited Saudi Arabia and in an unprecedented manner President Musharraf was invited to the Arab League summit.When asked specifically about the parameters of this likely role that Pakistan wishes to play, the spokesperson evaded a direct reply, saying, We will talk about the parameters when we come to it.

Trilateral Meeting

A trilateral meeting between President Pervez Musharraf, President Hamid Karzai and the Turkish prime minister will take place in Turkey on April 29-30. Asked how this trilateral meeting would succeed in improving relations between Islamabad and Kabul when an earlier trilateral meeting spearheaded by President George Bush failed to deliver, the spokesperson said, There is a situation inside Afghanistan and lack of understanding of Pakistan's policies (towards Kabul). It is always useful to maintain a dialogue. This meeting will be another opportunity to take forward this dialogue.

Responding to a query, the spokesperson prayed for the safe recovery of the missing BBC reporter in Palestine and said journalists try to do their work in difficult circumstances. At times this means reporting from conflict zones. In this regard their safety must be ensured she added. Asked about the government's decision to once again gag the electronic media, the spokesperson said the government wanted the best of relations with the media and interact regularly with them.But this particular case is one that the Foreign Office does not deal with and the Ministry of Information and Pemra should be approached, she said while responding to a query about a ban on Aaj TV.

The spokesperson said Pakistan has stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity very consistently but said that its neighbour faced massive internal problems, including from drugs, warlords and a lack of national reconciliation efforts.

She reiterated that the presence of some three million Afghan refugees was creating problems for Pakistan because there are reports that the refugees are providing
shelter to Taliban and others. She said, Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.About the Middle East situation, the spokesperson said Pakistan's eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region. She rejected speculation that Pakistan's initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel.

Details

Pakistan is willing to play a role to resolve the Palestinian issue as the deteriorating situation in the Middle East has a direct impact on the region and Pakistan, the Foreign Office said Monday. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters at a weekly briefing that Pakistan would play its part provided there were assurances that this will help find a just solution to the Palestinian problem.
Responding to a question on Israel’s reaction to President Pervez Musharraf’s comments, Ms Tasnim Aslam said a number of leaders from the Muslim world had asked the President to play a mediatory role. The President in an interview to the al-Arabia television had said he was willing to play a role if both the parties accepted him as a mediator. In an unprecedented move Pakistan along with two other non-Arab countries had also participated in the Arab League Summit at Riyadh, which was aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the MidEast situation, the spokesperson said.

She said Pakistan had also hosted a meeting of seven foreign ministers from Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries in Islamabad to discuss the Middle East crisis. Ms Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan’s eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region.

Ms Aslam rejected speculation that Pakistan’s initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel. About the forthcoming meeting in Ankara between President Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai meeting this month, the Foreign Office spokesperson said it would be another opportunity to clear misunderstandings between the two countries on several issues. There has been a lack of understanding on Pakistan’s policies and views on the part of Afghanistan...and it’s always useful to have dialogue.She said the issues that needed to be addressed between the two countries included process of reconciliation, absence of reconstruction efforts, problems of drugs, warlords and other criminal elements. The spokesperson said Pakistan stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity and wanted to have good relations with its neighbour. Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.Email: Marketing@PakistanTimes.net