asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he and his European Economic Community colleagues are considering to build upon the European Economic community Venice declaration on the Middle East to help progress toward a settlement in that region.

At the European Council in Brussels on 29–30 March, the Ten reaffirmed their desire to see urgent efforts made to establish peace and stability in the Middle East and their willingness to assist efforts to that end. With our partners in the Ten we shall continue to do all we can to encourage a negotiated solution on the basis of our well-known balanced approach, but the primary responsibility for progress must remain with the parties directly concerned.