Russia calls for EU intervention in Mid East crisis

Russia was seeking this weekend to exploit a Kremlin initiative to end violence in the Middle East by calling for a "strategic partnership" with the European Union ahead of a visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami.

Russia's latest peace initiative follows on from a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Friday.

The initiative was unveiled by Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov at a conference in Berlin.

Mr Ivanov told a forum that Russia, the United States and the 15 EU members should work together to reduce tension in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

However, Mr Barak on Sunday rejected any talk of an international force on Palestinian territory, saying that the move "would have no effect on the ground".

Mr Ivanov was expected to discuss the proposal with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Sunday evening at the Russian embassy in Vienna.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newslink/nat/newsnat-27nov2000-3.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), November 26, 2000