Loan Adviser

The EU condemns the use of European passports in the murder of Mabhuh but without mentioning Israel

EU foreign ministers tried today of murder in Dubai on 20 January, and several expressed their “concern” about the use of European passports to his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Liberman, who was visiting Brussels.

Liberman avoided ruling on the alleged involvement of the Israeli Mossad in the assassination, and asked about it after meeting with European Parliament president, saying only: “I think you all are too James Bond films.

According to a statement released in Jerusalem by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lieberman said “there is no report linking Israel with the incident” and stressed that ” if there is alternative information beyond the press, Israel will respond, “

The sta1000tement agreed by EU Ministers today said that” the EU strongly condemns the fact that those involved in this action have used passports and credit cards from EU Member States.

He added that the assassination of Al Mahbuh “is an activity which can lead to peace and stability in the Middle East” although there is no formal condemnation of the act.

The agreed text contains no mention of Israel, the prime suspect in the murder, because that country has not officially acknowledged its participation.

“There is a recognition of the facts,” he said at a news conference after the meeting of chief ministers of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton.

The Dubai authorities have identified eleven suspects in the killing of Mahmoud al Mabhuh, who traveled to the Gulf emirate with passports from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany.

These passports and credit cards were “acquired through identity theft of EU citizens,” said the European Union in its text.

The EU also ensures that EU passports are still ” of the safest in the world “as they include various security measures” to prevent forgery and misuse “.

” I admit what happened, but I think that we should not lose confidence in some passports extremely safe. This has been a terrible incident, but unusual, “said Ashton.

Asked about possible measures following the alleged use of European passports by Mossad agents, Ashton recalled that the investigations are ongoing and should not anticipate its results.

“The next step should be to cooperate with the Dubai authorities in the investigation, to have more tests possible and then make our decisions on that basis, “he said.

The High Representative for European Common Foreign Ministers confirmed that return to this issue” when more information.

Liberman had an informal dinner after meeting with Ashton too informal manner with the foreign ministers of Spain, the UK, Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria.

The Irish Minister Michael Martin said he asked Lieberman, “guarantees” on compliance with European passports, and the Israeli replied, according to his ministry, that “many false accusations made against Israel on many issues.”

Meanwhile, the Spanish Miguel Angel Moratinos Israeli owner moved the contents of the declaration adopted by the European Union just before its meeting.

“I”ve raised the situation, “said Moratinos, who also dealt with efforts Liberman EU and the Spanish presidency to” resume indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Moratinos and Minister of Foreign Affairs France, Bernard Kouchner, today called on the EU to set a “timetable for negotiations” to try to unblock the process of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Both bet to set a timetable “limited” over “the whole of final status issues, such as security, borders, water, refugees and Jerusalem, lay the two ministers in a joint article released today by the daily “Le Monde” and “La Vanguardia”.