Friends,

It is difficult for me to stand here and talk in positive terms about the Middle East peace process. Violence is still a daily event in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Today a 14 year old boy was killed in Gaza City. Last Wednesday there was a new suicide-bomber on a bus in Jerusalem who killed at least ten people.

The day before there was an Israeli incursion in Gaza causing the death of at least eight people.

But despite the bleakness of today's outlook for a re-start of peace talks between the officials there are some steps taken which might give reason for some optimism.

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Conflicts as well as possible solutions can be seen from different, and sometimes directly opposite, angles. In some sense this is the case in the Middle East conflict and peace process. But in any conflict the parts must respect the set of values and regulations we refer to as International Law and Human Rights. To this there is no alternative.

Unfortunately one major problem in the Middle East peace process is that international law and human rights are not fully respected by everyone.

Sweden has on the 30^th of January written a statement to the International Court of Justice outlining its view on the construction of the so called security barrier between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In our view Israel has legitimate security concerns. The construction of a wall on Israeli territory would not have been in contravention of international law.

However, the building of a barrier on occupied territory violates international law in several respects. Building the security barrier on occupied territory will also ad to Palestinian feelings of injustice and oppression. That is not a good way of building confidence and mutual understanding, which of course in the end is required for peace and security. Therefore Israel must stop and reverse the construction of the barrier as also demanded by UN.

But claiming the importance of International Law does not in any respect question the Israeli peoples' fear and suffering. Quite the opposite. Constant occupied by the thought that a suicide-bomber might put an end to your life or to the life of your family members must be horrible. We can never - in any respect whatsoever - accept suicide-bombers. Never.

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The Palestinians on the occupied territories have a daily life full of suffering and humiliation. Not only the new demolishing of land due to the barrier, but also curfews and road blocks that make normal life clods to unbearable. The Palestinians not only have the right to state, but also the right to basic human rights and dignity.

The Social Democratic Party in Sweden is very worried when reached by reports showing a growing anti-Semitism in Europe. Parallel to this development the Islamofobic tendencies in Europe are increasing.

We must pay attention to both these changes, and fight to stop them. Our future together must be built on respect and understanding.

Lately some voices have pointed out Sweden and the Social Democratic Party as supporting anti-Semitism. One could not be more wrong. The Sharon regime sometimes deserves criticism. That criticism concerns a state government. Not a religion. Not the Jews. It is very important to separate these two. The Israelis, the Palestinians as well as the rest of us have an obligation to make this separation.

The Swedish Social Democratic Party has for a long time been engaged in stimulating dialogue in the Middle East. This January, as government, we arranged the Stockholm International Forum on Genocide. It was the fourth in a series of seminars to remember the Holocaust and to try to learn from our previous mistakes.

The January the Swedish Social Democratic Party also invited representatives from Fatah and the Labour Party for conversations in Sweden. Not to discuss the Peace Process or any of the initiatives taken lately, but to discuss social democratic policy and ideology. As I understand it our friends from both parties appreciated and the dialogue and are looking forward to coming meetings.

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What I foremost pin my optimism on is the so called Geneva Initiative which was officially launched on 1 December last year. The significance of this initiative is, according to my view, that it has improved the possibilities for the Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiation. The Geneva accord signals to the public on both sides that peace is possible; it signals that there is a partner on the other side with whom it is possible to discuss peace. It is a courageous act from the people involved.

As I see it, it has finally brought back discussion and debate to the substance of the conflict such as how to find solutions to the final issues such as borders, refugees, Jerusalem and security. Last week when Yasser Abed Rabbo and Avraham Burg and their colleagues visited Stockholm, the Swedish Governments gave the initiative its full support. We even invited them to join the Cabinet meeting, an almost exclusive treatment, to show our respect.

The Geneva Accord is a possible way forward. And it is an approach built on two peoples dreams and two peoples needs. And upon every ones longing for peace. With dreams you often have to compromise. But you must never loose your dream. One of the strongest reasons to support the Geneva Accord is that it has succeeded in compromising without losing the dream but rather infusing hope.

Thank you.