Powell: U.S. and EU united on Middle East

By Elise Labott
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday the United States and the European Union share a common position on encouraging an end to violence between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Powell met with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who currently holds the EU presidency, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Powell said the two sides are "united in our encouragement" to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to implement calls in his recent speech for an end to the suicide attacks "in order to get the violence down to a point where we can begin serious discussions toward a cease-fire."

The United States and European Union were also "united in our desire to do everything we can and to encourage others to do all they can to ease the plight of the Palestinian people, who are existing in very, very difficult circumstances," Powell said.

He plans to meet Thursday with retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, his special envoy who was recalled over the weekend after a fruitless attempt to mediate between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Powell pointed to some "optimistic elements in the equation," including security talks scheduled to take place in the region between the two sides.

"We have not given up hope," Powell said.

Powell said he hoped to send Zinni back to the region soon for negotiations.

Verhofstadt said it is absolute necessary "that we continue to pressure both parties, but certainly Chairman Arafat, to go in implementing everything he has said in his speech."

He said the United States and European Union would "further ask from Chairman Arafat new steps, new efforts that can be the basis then for a relaunch of negotiations for a cease-fire in the near future."

"And I think that, with the good cooperation between the United States and the European Union, it's possible certainly to have new, better results in a short period of time," he said, adding that Solana would remain in Washington to continue consultations with the United States.

A Belgian diplomat who attended the meeting said the United States and the European Union both see a "missed opportunity" for progress between the Israelis and the Palestinians since Powell's speech last month on the Bush administration's vision for a Palestinian state.

He said those who attended the meeting agreed on the need for a common approach between the United States, the Europeans and the Arab world to "push, push, push" Arafat to take the steps needed to stop the violence.