LOC13:58
10:58 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 22 (KUNA) -- Several EU foreign ministers attending a meeting here Tuesday called for an end to bombardments and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius told reporters that they will discuss about Ukraine and the Middle East during their meeting here today.
"The situation in Israel and Gaza is very difficult. There is no excuse for the slaughtering which rises the tension between people living side by side. France's position is to ask immediately a cease fire," he said.
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt said "the situation in Gaza is terrible. We need an immediate ceasefire."
"But we need to go beyond that. We need a comprehensive solution which should include all the elements we are talking about of the previous Gaza wars, the blockades, governance, security. All of those elements need to be bought together so that we have a solution," he said.
"We should be ready for any international involvement that would be necessary to reach a more comprehensive solution and the EU could be a substantial part of that," Bildt added.
Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders said "we have tried to put pressure on both sides for a ceasefire. It was impossible to have an agreement on both sides until now. So we need to do more."
He noted that Europe left the initiative to the US for one year, adding "but now we need to go further than that. We should ask for a ceasefire, but also put on the table some political proposals for a two-state solution."
"It is very important for Europe to be present in the discussions and propose not only a ceasefire but to start with a ceasefire to a political and economic agreement," he added. (end)
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