EU Foreign Ministers Meet on Mideast Crisis
EU Foreign Ministers Meet on Mideast Crisis
European Union foreign ministers are trying to agree on a draft statement
calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
But diplomats at the talks in Brussels say Britain and Germany have rejected
a draft that calls for an immediate ceasefire. They say the two countries
have proposed a call for an eventual cessation of hostilities.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said Israel's decision to intensify
the offensive against Hezbollah will only increase support for the militant
group. Finland is the current president of the 25-member European Union.
France has led calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Britain
has resisted, calling instead for an international force in Lebanon to make
sure a truce is sustainable.
Earlier Tuesday during a visit to Beirut, Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr
Mottaki, criticized the United Nations Security Council for its failure to
stop the fighting.
*欧盟外长开会讨论中东危机
欧盟国家外长努力就呼吁以色列和真主党游击队在黎巴嫩停火的声明草案达成一
致。但是在布鲁塞尔参加会谈的外交人士说，英国和德国拒绝接受一份呼吁立即
停火的草案。他们说这两个国家提出了一项最终结束敌对状态的建议。
芬兰外交部长埃尔基.图奥米奥亚说，以色列加强对黎巴嫩真主党攻势的决定只会
使这个激进组织得到的支持。芬兰是有25个成员的欧盟的轮值主席国。
以法国为首的国家呼吁立即实现无条件停火。英国拒绝接受，提议在黎巴嫩部署
一支国际部队以确保持久的停战。
星期二早些时候，伊朗外长穆塔基访问贝鲁特的时候批评联合国安理会没能制止
战争。
