BRUSSELS (EJP)--- In his first visit abroad since he took office in May last year, Israel’s defence minister Amir Peretz met Wednesday in Brussels with Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief.

“The meeting is part of the constant contacts of Mr Solana with the Israeli leaders, “Christina Gallach, his spokeswoman, told EJP.

The working lunch, at Peretz’s request, took place ahead of a meeting later this week of the “Quartet” of mediators in Washington which will be attended by Solana.

The meeting of the Quartet, comprising the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, has been called to try to get the Israeli-Palestinian peace process back on track.

Solana and Peretz discussed the latest developments in the security area in Israel following the suicide attack in Eilat which killed three people on Monday, the developments of the situation within the Palestinian camp and the prospects on the diplomatic front before the Quartet meeting.

According to Solana's spokeswoman, they also raised the issue of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt and an EU program to form the Palestinian police.

The EU has repeatedly urged Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing which is regularly closed to prevent arms smuggling through this passage.

Since 2005, the EU has launched the EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah, code-named EU BAM Rafah, to monitor the operations of this border crossing point.

On 13 November 2006, the mission’s mandate was extended for 6 months.

The yearlong agreement will expire in May 2007 and the EU is now looking for a prolongation.

“We would like that the crossing be opened as much as possible,” Solana’s spokeswoman said.

Before departing for France, Peretz had talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer during a first visit to the Alliance’s headquarters in the Belgian capital.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (R) held bilateral talks with Israeli defence minister Amir Peretz at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.

According to NATO sources, Wednesday's meeting took place in the context of the enhancement of the political dimension of the Mediterranean Dialogue decided at the June 2004 Istanbul Summit, comprising the possibility of political consultations meetings between NATO and Mediterranean Dialogue partners at ministerial level.

The Mediterranean partners include Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as Israel.

In this context, Peretz confirmed that he will be attending the meeting in Sevilla between NATO members and the Mediterranean partners, on 9 February in Sevilla, Spain.  

During the meeting at NATO Headquarters Minister Peretz confirmed that he will be attending the Seville meeting.
31 Jan 2007