§ Sir Frederic Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Venice declaration of the European Community on the middle east still represents United Kingdom and Community policy towards this area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindOur policy towards the Arab-Israel dispute, in common with our European Community partners, has consistently been to seek a negotiated settlement on the basis of two balanced principles, the right of all states in the area, including Israel, to exist in peace and security, and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. This has been made clear in successive statements by the Ten, most recently in the declaration issued by Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 27 March.