Spain : EU should take lead in Mideast peace process

Spain called on European Union (EU) member countries Monday to take the lead in the peace process in the Middle East, saying the 27-member EU should create new tools to exercise pressure on the Israelis and Palestinians to make them return to negotiations' table. Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, in Luxembourg for an EU foreign ministers' meeting, was quoted by local media as saying that the statement of the Quartet that called on Palestinians and Israelis to resume peace talks within next few months thus reaching an agreement before end of 2012 "is not enough." She said Europe should take the lead at this time to help both parties resume negotiations. Jimenez said the only solution to ending the conflict in the Middle East was by establishing two internationally-recognized independent states living in peace and security.