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Major powers back Powell's push for peace

Israeli soldiers search Palestinian youths after they surrendered in Al Ain refugee camp in the northern West Bank town of Nablus yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Officials from the UN, the EU and Russia endorsed US Secretary of State Colin Powell's peacemaking venture in the Middle East yesterday and urged Israel and the Palestinians to cooperate with him.

"There is no military solution to the conflict," said a joint statement issued by four leaders and Powell after their meeting.

They called for an immediate ceasefire and Israel's immediate withdrawal from Palestinian-held cities on the West Bank, including Ramallah, where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is under confinement.

At the same time, the officials said, "Terrorism, including suicide bombing, is illegal and immoral."

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, appearing at a news conference after the meeting, said Syrian and Lebanese leaders had assured him they would try to curb guerrilla attacks on Israel from Lebanon.

"They will do everything they can," Annan said he was told.

Powell reiterated his position that a political solution must be pressed hand-in-hand with efforts for a ceasefire.

"Violence of whatever form ... at this point is counterproductive," Powell said. "It is totally destabilizing the region."

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique and other European officials have begun to consider imposing trade sanctions against Israel if Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not reverse his military foray on the West Bank, but Powell said the trade issue did not come up at yesterday's talks.

Joining Powell in the session were Pique and Javier Solana, the EU's foreign and security chief, Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

Meanwhile, a senior US official said details have not been worked out for Powell's weekend meeting with Arafat, but that Powell still intends to see the Palestinian leader. Sharon said Wednesday that meeting would be a "tragic mistake."

Powell was to fly to Jordan for discussions with the Jordanian king today and then on to Israel later in the day.

"We are going to have to act more quickly," Powell said Tuesday after a round of talks with Arab leaders and an announcement that he would meet with Arafat.

Powell said he expected Israel to withdraw its troops from the West Bank and all nations are obliged to do what they can to stop the fighting. He said he urged Syria and, through intermediaries, Iran to clamp down on militant groups.

Powell is pressing for accelerated negotiations to establish a Palestinian state and said the US would seek a swift end to violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Setting no deadline to complete his mission, Powell said he would meet Arafat as well as Sharon in an effort to broker a truce.

"I haven't set any departure date," the secretary said. "I am prepared to stay for some while."

Powell said the US was willing to contribute a small detachment of State Department or other civilian US government employees to monitor any ceasefire agreement. He said the Americans would not "prevent people from shooting each other."

Powell said all the Arab leaders with whom he met underscored the urgency of getting started on an accord, and doing it through Arafat as representative of the Palestinians.

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