EU: EU foreign ministers called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Lebanon after talks yesterday that highlighted continued tensions between member states, writes Jamie Smyth in Brussels
Ministers also warned all parties in the conflict to refrain from actions that violated international humanitarian law and to do everything possible to protect civilians.
"The council calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities to be followed by a sustainable cease-fire," said the EU statement, which had to be rewritten after protests from a group of member states led by Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic.
For four hours ministers debated the language contained in the EU statement, which has divided member states between supporters of US policy - that a draft political solution is needed before a ceasefire - and those that favour an "immediate ceasefire".
Several states, such as France, Ireland and Sweden, went to the meeting pushing for the strongest possible diplomatic language to be used to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks.
Initially, current EU president Finland circulated a draft statement calling for an "immediate ceasefire" and alleged that humanitarian law may already have been broken in the conflict.
But after pressure from Britain and its supporters the text was watered down to call for an "immediate cessation" of attacks and asked all parties to refrain from violating international humanitarian law.
Most ministers emerging from the meeting downplayed the changes made to the statement and said it would send a strong message to both parties to stop the fighting.
French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said the idea of a phased halt to the fighting corresponded with a draft UN Security Council resolution circulated by France.
"What we want to see in the UN Security Council resolution, what has not been in a UN Security Council resolution so far, or in the declaration of the core group [ of world powers that met in Rome last week], is an immediate cessation of hostilities," he said. "I can assure you this is very important."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said there was a clear call for the killing to stop and there was no way any Israeli minister could claim that the meeting had provided a green light for further attacks as happened after last week's Rome meeting.
EU states also discussed the possible deployment of an international force to help keep the peace in Lebanon. In a statement they said this type of force would require a strong mandate from the UN to act in support of a political settlement and the Lebanese armed forces. French troops are expected to lead such a force if a ceasefire can be agreed.
Italy, Finland, Poland, Sweden and Spain are all considering sending peacekeepers to Lebanon. EU candidate Turkey and Indonesia have also said they may provide troops if there is a peace to keep. Several Latin American states may also send troops. Mr Ahern said that Ireland would consider such a request following a UN mandate.
Ministers said that so far the European Commission and EU states have committed €56 million and pledged an extra €52 million for relief efforts. For its part Ireland will double its aid with the provision of a further €1 million, Minister of State Conor Lenihan said.
Earlier at a meeting in the European Parliament, all political groups issued a unanimous statement urging an immediate ceasefire. President of the parliament Josep Borrell warned ministers that anything other than a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire would be a failure.
"The council must listen to the voice of its citizens, who expect the EU to play a full role in the resolution of the conflict," he said.
Hans-Gert Poettering, leader of the largest group in the parliament, the EPP-ED, said Israel must act within international law, with a proportionate response and no escalation. "This is not what is happening today," he said.