EU official: Kerry's initiative most important opportunity

European Union representative to the Palestinian Authority, John Gatt-Rutter said Tuesday that the peace initiative by US Secretary of State John Kerry may be one of the most important opportunities to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, Gatt-Rutter expressed the EU’s strong support for Kerry's initiative for attaining peace and arriving at a final agreement that ends the conflict.“We are here at this stage to support the efforts of the Secretary Kerry,' he said. 'His proposal is one of the most important opportunities that currently exist for the Palestinians to achieve an independent state of Palestine,' said Gatt-Rutter.The EU member states are committed to advancing peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis based on the two-state solution, he said.Gatt-Rutter said the EU wants to continue working with the Palestinians hand-in-hand and in partnership to establish an independent, viable state of Palestine living side by side with Israel.“Though there is deep rooted skepticism and very little trust about the peace process, we have one opportunity today with us that perhaps you, more than anyone else, cannot afford to lose,' he said.He added that there are difficult decisions to be taken, but still the European Union will work with both sides to obtain just, lasting peace.“There are difficult decisions to take, but I want to say we are here to say that we will be with you as you take these decisions and to make them work out,” he added.When asked about the EU’s position on settlement products, Gatt-Rutter said the EU member states have certain criteria to differentiate between products in terms of their origin through customs and labeling.“We have a very clear position on settlement activity which is shared by all member states of the EU based on the international law,” he said.“Settlement products that are coming from what we consider illegal settlements should not be coming into Europe as Israeli products,” he added.Gatt-Rutter further said settlements in the West Bank threaten the possibility of a Palestinian state and the viability of the two-state solution.