Britain and Germany reject EU draft statement
Britain and Germany today rejected a draft EU statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants, diplomats said.
The two nations, at emergency EU foreign ministers’ talks, offered an alternative draft calling for an eventual “cessation of hostilities” – with no time frame given.
On the way into the meeting, the EU presidency warned that Israel’s offensive in southern Lebanon would only increase support for Hezbollah militants.
The ministers’ emergency meeting discussed a draft statement saying: “The (EU) Council calls for an immediate ceasefire.”
Britain has so far agreed with the US position that work is needed to ensure any ceasefire can last, and UK foreign secretary Margaret Beckett has said “a call for an end to the violence” should be an element of a long-term peace plan.
All EU ministers have to agree on the statement before it is issued.
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