LEBANON: The Minister insists the momentum must now be kept up, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent.
The Palestinians should "act purposefully" to stop acts of violence and the Israeli authorities should "halt their military operations against Palestinians", the Minister for Foreign Affairs said in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, at the end of a six-day working visit to the Middle East.
Welcoming the calling of a truce by Palestinian militant factions as "a major step forward", Mr Cowen also welcomed the partial Israeli pull-out from the Gaza Strip, and said he looked forward to "further withdrawals from the Palestinian territories reoccupied since the outbreak of the Intifada".
He added: "Whatever the reservations on both sides, they are now presented with an opportunity to engage in a positive dynamic which will lead to a comprehensive peaceful solution. It is of vital importance that they build on these positive beginnings and maintain the momentum.
"Formal declarations are one thing. What is really important now is to do everything possible to reinforce the movement towards peace. Concrete steps must be taken on both sides. Those who seek to destroy this initiative through violence must be faced down and provocations must not be allowed to derail this new and positive impetus towards a peaceful settlement.
"The Palestinians should act purposefully to stop acts of violence and the Israelis should halt their military operations against Palestinians. Neither side can hope to attain its goals through the use of force." The Minister added: "Ireland will continue to play an active and visible role over the coming months to assist in sustaining progress on the Quartet Road Map and helping the people of the Middle East to realise the peace and prosperity which they deserve."
During his tour of the region, Mr Cowen also visited Egypt, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Syria. He met Jordanian government leaders in Amman at the weekend, including the Foreign Minister, Mr Marwan Muasher.
At a press conference after their meeting, Mr Muasher said: "Ireland is going to assume the EU presidency at a very crucial period in the Road Map.Assuming that we successfully move beyond the security phase of the Road Map, we will then enter into the political phase."
Asked by a Jordanian journalist why he had not met Israeli government representatives during his Middle East visit, Mr Cowen said: "There is a policy at present by the Israeli government where they have made clear that anyone who pays a visit to the President of the Palestinian people [Mr Yasser Arafat] does not on that same occasion get the opportunity to meet and engage in dialogue with Israel. I very much regret that. I don't wish to over-dramatise it. I must say that the arrangements when I was in Israeli were excellent in terms of my transport and logistical arrangements. I very much regret that we couldn't meet them on this occasion. Of course we want to do so and we will come on another occasion to do that."
While he was in Jordan, Mr Cowen formally opened an Irish consulate in Amman at a reception for members of the Irish community: the newly appointed Honorary Consul is Mr Ramsey George Khoury, a local businessman.
On the next stage of his tour, at a press conference in Aleppo, Syria, after a meeting with President Al-Assad, the Minister rebuked a local journalist who put it to him that Israeli violence was worse than the violence carried out by Palestinians.
"I don't make any distinctions about the value of any human life," Mr Cowen said. "I come with a message of peace. I don't believe suicide bombings should continue or should ever happen or can ever be justified. I don't believe targeted assassinations should happen or should ever be justified.
"I believe in the rule of law, I believe in the political process. I have seen, in my own country, change coming about far more quickly, permanently and profoundly by working politics rather than violence. Terrorism will not achieve objectives. Terrorism is totalitarian in its nature, it is not democratic," Mr Cowen said.
He continued: "I do not get involved in a hierarchy of victimhood. I believe all life is precious, Israeli, Palestinian, Syrian, everyone's life is precious. We need to make politics work to end death and destruction."
In Beirut yesterday, Mr Cowen met the President of Lebanon, Mr Emile Lahoud and the country's Foreign Minister, Mr Jean Obeid. In both meetings, the Lebanese representatives began by thanking the Government and the Irish Defence Forces for their contribution to peacekeeping, through the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and the sacrifices that were made, particularly by the Irish soldiers who lost their lives.