[10/March/2010]

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Saba) -- European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned on Wednesday the decision by the Israeli regime to build 1, 600 more homes in a Jewish settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

"I join US Vice President Joe Biden in condemning the Israeli decision to build 1600 new houses in East Jerusalem," she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a debate on EU foreign and security policy.

Biden during his visit to Jerusalem Tuesday said he condemned the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. " Ashton said she will be going to the Middle East next week on her first visit to the region. On Iran's nuclear issue, Ashton said the EU is leading efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

"We fully support the UNSC process on further restrictive measures if, as is the case today, Iran continues to ignore its obligations," stressed the EU foreign policy chief.

She warned that "the Iranian case has the potential to derail the NPT Review Conference scheduled for May in New York." On Somalia, she noted that the EU's anti-piracy naval operation "Atalanta" has been widely hailed as a success. Ashton said the next step will be to further develop options for the transfer of suspected pirates for prosecution in the region and added that the EU will launch in spring a training mission for Somail security forces.

She said the EU is moving ahead with longer-term development work in Yemen and Somalia on poverty, literacy and health.

Finally, Ashton stressed that the new European External Action Service will be key to deliver a stronger, more credible European foreign policy.(

Saba