ANDREW DUFF OPPOSES EU/NATO MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN LEBANON: CALL FOR PALESTINIAN SETTLEMENT
July 26, 2006 11:30 AM
East of England Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew DUFF opposes the UK government suggestion that British armed forces should become part of a peace-making force in Lebanon. In a statement today, DUFF said:
"Neither the European Union nor NATO is capable of mounting an armed force of sufficient size and strength to combat Hizbollah and to protect itself, at the same time, from US-backed Israel aggression.
"Europe should not be blamed for having neither the political will nor the military capability to intervene in this vicious war. We are not a superpower, and should avoid US-style pretensions.
"There will be no peace in Lebanon or in the wider Muslim world unless Israel concedes a just deal for Palestine. Israel is in consistent breach of UN resolutions, and its current behaviour only serves to fuel injustice and spread terror.
"It is almost beyond belief that Mr Blair can countenance yet another mindless military adventure in the Middle East. He would be far wiser to join with his EU colleagues and break with Washington by calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Andrew DUFF, who is a member of the Security and Defence Committee of the European Parliament, added:
"50 years after Suez, the UK remains a deeply mistrusted player in world affairs. It must now fall to the European Union to begin the diplomatic work to build a comprehensive peace settlement that will return Lebanon to calm, allow the Palestinian state to get established, and return Israel to her rightful borders."
ENDS/…
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