Abel Matutes, the European Community Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, met with Prime Minister Shamir. The EEC was interested in a major role for Europe in the future peace conference. Israel wanted a more balanced and even-handed European policy. The EEC Commissioner spoke of the possibility of expanding the nature of Israel's ties with the Common Market. However, the EEC wanted regional stability through a peace process. Mr. Shamir called for patience on the road to peace. Text of the summary follows:
Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, yesterday (Wednesday), 10.7.91, met with Abel Matutes, the European Community Commissioner for Mediterranean affairs. The Prime Minister noted that, despite our closeness to Europe, there is sometimes a feeling that there is insufficient understanding there of all the problems which Israel confronts - with respect to both its foreign relations and its treatment of internal problems. Despite all this, Shamir emphasized, Israel wants to draw closer to the countries of Europe.
Matutes responded that the Community is aware of Israeli sensitivities to Europe which have deep historic roots. According to Matutes, there is admiration in Europe for the accomplishments of the State of Israel and for its position during the Gulf war. He noted that, after the Gulf war, the European Community advanced scientific cooperation and it is now discussing the expansion of cooperation between Israel and the European Community on all fronts. The Common Market, Matutes said, is interested in bringing Israel into the European economic system along the lines of its ties with EFTA. For the sake of European economic integration, there must be stability in the Middle East and Matutes said that, therefore, it is necessary that there be regional cooperation between the countries of the Middle East. Consequently, he said, the trend of the European Community is to encourage - to the best of its ability - Israel toward advancing the peace process with its neighbors.
The Prime Minister expressed his wish that all these ideas would be carried out and he promised that Israel would be a loyal partner to Europe and that it would contribute whatever possible to advance peace in the region. Shamir said that Israel is faced with a deep and historic conflict which is not easily solved at once and, therefore, progress must be made with patience - step by step toward a settlement. According to Shamir, Europe must assume a balanced position on the conflict between Israel and the Arab states and, in so doing, it will be able to contribute greatly to advance peace in the region. Having heard the explanations of the visitor, Shamir said that there seems to be an optimism, in the states of the European Community, on the development of relations between Israel and its neighbors.