Biarritz, 13 October 2000 (RFE/RL) - European Union leaders are calling for an emergency Middle East summit to help end a spiral of violence in the region and restore dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. The EU leaders made their appeal in a joint declaration issued at an informal meeting in the French Atlantic coastal resort of Biarritz.
The original purpose of the Biarritz meeting was to discuss progress in negotiations aimed at concluding a new EU treaty by the end of the year. The treaty should streamline EU decision-making to cope with up to a dozen new members.
But proceedings have been overshadowed by the crisis in the Middle East.
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica is expected to go to the summit tomorrow.
The original purpose of the Biarritz meeting was to discuss progress in negotiations aimed at concluding a new EU treaty by the end of the year. The treaty should streamline EU decision-making to cope with up to a dozen new members.
But proceedings have been overshadowed by the crisis in the Middle East.
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica is expected to go to the summit tomorrow.