FOLLOWING the threatened refusal by the Israeli government to meet the EU Troika if they visited the PLO headquarters in Jerusalem, the foreign ministers have decided to drop the city from their itinerary in the Middle East.
As part of a compromise, the three ministers, led by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, will instead meet the PLO chairman, Mr Yasser Arafat, in Gaza on Sunday and hold discussions with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr David Levy, on the margins of the Middle East conference in Cairo on Tuesday.
The troika, which consists of the foreign ministers of the present, past and future EU presidencies and the Commission, initially planned to go to Jerusalem and visit the PLO headquarters at Orient House. However, Israel signalled its intention to refuse to meet the troika if they persisted in going to Orient House, and a compromise was worked out.
Sources in the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night that the first priority of the troika was to engage in dialogue with the parties. Under the present arrangement, discussions could take place with everyone involved.
The ministers are due in Damascus on Saturday for a meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr Sharaa. The following day they are due to meet President Assad before going to Amman for discussions with King Hussein of Jordan.
That evening they will meet Mr Arafat in Gaza, where they will spend the night before leaving for Cairo to meet President Mubarak of Egypt.
While in Cairo, Mr Spring will address the Middle East and North Africa Economic Conference as President of the EU Council of Ministers. Last night he met the newly-appointed EU special envoy to the Middle East, Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos.
Catherine Cleary reports:
Mr Spring said last night the decision not to visit Jerusalem and Orient House did not reflect a change in policy. "It is not possible for us to visit Jerusalem. If we were to go to Jerusalem it would involve a trip to Orient House."
Mr Moratinos said he will not be going on the troika visit as his appointment has not yet been confirmed. He said EU relations with the Israeli authorities were good, and that Mr Levy referred to "my friend Minister Dick Spring" when he met him on Monday.
Asked about US reaction to EU in the peace process,
Mr Spring said there was a "new sense of partnership" between the two.
. The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, is to visit Ireland on November 20th.