Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (right) with visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in Ramallah, (WAFA photo / Maan Khalifa) 

RAMALLAH, March 9, 2017 (WAFA) – Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser said Thursday the European Union (EU) should be more active in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, which he said is a regional and international interest.

Mikser’s remarks came during his meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Malki in Ramallah.

He said once his country chairs the EU, he will work on a European agenda to revive the stalled Middle East peace process for the interest of the Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the region and the world.

He said his country’s position, which follows the line of the EU, calls for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution on the June, 1967 lines and related international resolutions.

He also considered settlements as illegal and illegitimate and a violation of international law, as well as an obstacle to peace based on two states for two people.

Malki, on his part, stressed the importance of the EU playing an active role in the peace process due to its political, diplomatic and economic influence and to work hard for the implementation of the two-state solution that would bring peace and security to all.

The Estonian Foreign Minister also met on Thursday with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who urged Estonia to support the peace process and help achieve the two-state solution by recognizing the state of Palestine.

Hamdallah and Mikser discussed means to promote Palestinian-Estonian cooperation, especially on the academic level and support the Palestinian e-government program.

Hamdallah briefed Mikser on the latest political developments and Israeli violations against the Palestinian people, reiterating Palestinian leadership’s commitment to the two-state solution and the peace process to achieve Palestinian statehood.

He stressed that ongoing Israeli settlement construction and violation of international resolutions, the last of which was United Nations Security Council resolution 2334, which condemned settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, would end the two-state solution and fragment the contiguity of the Palestinian state.

He stressed the need for effective international intervention to help salvage the two-state solution and realize legitimate Palestinian rights to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.

K.F./M.K.