halldor
03-30-2003, 03:52 PM
Sunday, March 30, 2003
MFA Director-General meets with UK Ambassador: British statements outrageous
MFA Director-General meets with UK Ambassador: British statements outrageous
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Jerusalem, 27 March 2003
The Ambassador of the UK, Mr. Sherard Cowper-Coles, was summoned tonight
(March 27) to an urgent meeting with the Director-General of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yoav Biran.
During the meeting, the Director-General asked the Ambassador to convey to
his Government the severity with which Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom view the latest British statements on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Director-General noted in particular the
baseless attempt to create a linkage between that conflict and the
international campaign against the Iraqi regime and its attempts to arm
itself with weapons of mass destruction.
Director-General Biran totally rejected the comments of the Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Jack Straw, regarding the
so-called "double standards," reminding the Ambassador of Mr. Straw's own
recent statements in Parliament to the contrary.
The Director-General of the Foreign Ministry emphasized the regard with
which the Government of Israel holds the United Kingdom and its people. He
commended the British action against Saddam Hussein's regime and its arming
with weapons of mass destruction, as well as against Iraq's assistance to
terrorism. The Director-General also noted the contribution this will make
to transforming the Middle East and the world into a more stable and secure
place.
It is against this background that the latest British statements are
worrisome and outrageous, as they do not contribute to the peace
process, and might even hinder progress towards achieving a solution
to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
MFA Director-General meets with UK Ambassador: British statements outrageous
MFA Director-General meets with UK Ambassador: British statements outrageous
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Jerusalem, 27 March 2003
The Ambassador of the UK, Mr. Sherard Cowper-Coles, was summoned tonight
(March 27) to an urgent meeting with the Director-General of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yoav Biran.
During the meeting, the Director-General asked the Ambassador to convey to
his Government the severity with which Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom view the latest British statements on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Director-General noted in particular the
baseless attempt to create a linkage between that conflict and the
international campaign against the Iraqi regime and its attempts to arm
itself with weapons of mass destruction.
Director-General Biran totally rejected the comments of the Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Jack Straw, regarding the
so-called "double standards," reminding the Ambassador of Mr. Straw's own
recent statements in Parliament to the contrary.
The Director-General of the Foreign Ministry emphasized the regard with
which the Government of Israel holds the United Kingdom and its people. He
commended the British action against Saddam Hussein's regime and its arming
with weapons of mass destruction, as well as against Iraq's assistance to
terrorism. The Director-General also noted the contribution this will make
to transforming the Middle East and the world into a more stable and secure
place.
It is against this background that the latest British statements are
worrisome and outrageous, as they do not contribute to the peace
process, and might even hinder progress towards achieving a solution
to the Arab-Israeli conflict.