Скачать или смотреть Irish foreign minister in Middle East on peace mission

(15 Jan 2004)

Tel Aviv
1. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom shaking hands with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brian Cowen, Irish Foreign Minister:
"ECOFIN (Economic and Financial Affairs Committee) took a decision which (was) based on the commitments received from both France and Germany regarding reducing their deficits to the required levels by 2005. That was specifically what the Commission was seeking them to do. The Council believed that they were in their own competence to reach that decision. The Commission, I understand, last Tuesday have asked the court to adjudicate on whether it was the council or the commission whose ruling should take precedence if you like in this situation and we must await the outcome of that interpretation now by the court due which I believe is now due in April so I don't think I can comment any further than that."
3. Wide shot men at podium

Jerusalem
4. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon meeting Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brian Cowen, Irish Foreign Minister:
"And we look forward during our time to work with partners like Israel, to work hard at the relationship that has been established over many years. It is an important relationship, and it is one that we need to continue through dialogue and discussion to help solve any problems, to try and improve relations and improve the situation for everybody in terms of the relationship. So can I thank Prime Minister Sharon for his welcome and we look forward to having a good discussion regarding the EU Israel relations here this afternoon. Thank you very much."
6. Various Sharon and Cowen shaking hands

STORYLINE:

Ireland's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen commented on the latest rift in internal EU relations, while visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday.

Ireland currently holds the European Union presidency.

The European Union Commission's move to overturn the decision allowing France and Germany to run budget deficits above the ceiling set by rules underpinning the euro had been criticised by member states.

On Tuesday, the Commission asked the European Court of Justice to decide whether finance ministers illegally bent procedural rules in
allowing France and Germany last November to run deficits above 3 percent of gross domestic product, as set in the EU's Stability and Growth Pact.

EU Commission President Romano Prodi last year "said the pact was stupid because it wasn't flexible enough."

Last year, during Italy's EU presidency, a majority of EU finance ministers decided France and Germany should not face sanctions for violating the rules and should instead be allowed to use fiscal policy to stimulate growth.

Cowen then met with Ariel Sharon, telling reporters that he looked forward to a discussion with the Israeli prime minister on EU Israeli relations.

After those discussions Cowen criticized the separation barrier that Israel is building in the West Bank, weeks before the world court is to look at the legality of the structure.

But he noted that the European Union is unhappy with the route of the barrier. Sections of the partially completed 400-mile (750-kilometre) complex of fences, ditches and razor wire dip deep into the West Bank.

Israel says the barrier is needed to keep Palestinian suicide bombers from entering the country, but the Palestinians say the barrier will gobble up large portions of territory where they say they want to establish an independent state.





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