Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between the EU’s Foreign Affairs Ministers and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to discuss Europe’s participation in the international peace-keeping force for Lebanon, the European Liberal Democrats call on EU member states to take up their responsibilities. “Tomorrow, European countries have to make a clear commitment to send substantial troops to Lebanon. France has played a key role in ensuring a cease-fire and it now has to back up its efforts with sending a significant number of peace-keepers to Lebanon. The current crisis is a test for Europe’s credibility which we cannot fail; the Middle East is counting on us. For the EU troops to effectively contribute to a lasting peace, both Israël and Hezbollah have to commit themselves to the UN resolution which calls for both sides to “support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution” to the conflict while respecting several principles. These include ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and the Litani river in southern Lebanon is free of any armed personnel and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL,” said ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts. ELDR recalls that lasting peace can only emerge from a dialogue between all the stakeholders and an analysis of the roots of the conflict. The Lebanese Hezbollah is the product of the history of the Middle East, notably the occupation of South Lebanon by Israël for over 20 years. The Middle East will only have a chance to be pacified when Israël and Palestine will live in secure states with guaranteed borders. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...