Minister for Foreign Affairs calls for immediate ceasefire as he leaves for emergency EU meeting in Paris

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Minister for Foreign Affairs calls for immediate ceasefire as he leaves for emergency EU meeting in Paris

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., has today strongly condemned the Israeli air strikes against Gaza which some reports estimate have resulted in over 350 people being killed.

Speaking today before he left for an emergency EU meeting in Paris to discuss the situation the Minister said:

"I call on both parties to heed the call of the UN Secretary General and the international community for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. The level of civilian suffering and appalling loss of life is entirely unacceptable and the situation must not be allowed to escalate further.

I spoke this morning with the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, and again reiterated my strong belief that the Israeli air strikes on Gaza represent a wholly disproportionate and unacceptable response to the violence which Hamas has inflicted on the people of Israel.

Actions such as these, as we know only too well from our own history, serve to continue and to escalate the cycle of violence, which has gripped both Gaza and southern Israel in recent weeks.

The EU has been a constant supporter of the Middle East Peace Process and I look forward to a constructive and meaningful meeting in Paris this evening."

Ends+++

30 December 2008

Press Office