EU will not participate in peace talks

Ashton's spokesman responds to French FM's statement.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
The European Union said Saturday it will not participate in the US-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority due to start on Thursday in Washington.
A spokesman for the bloc's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she will be in Beijing meeting with Chinese leaders at that time. Spokesman Darren Ennis also said "for the EU as a whole, the focus is on a successful outcome of the talks (and not) on the choreography or who goes to Washington."
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Ennis was responding to a statement Friday by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who said it would be "too bad" if the EU were locked out of the peace process.
Ennis said "the spotlight should be firmly focused on the talks themselves."
On Friday, Kouchner said it would be "too bad" if the EU were locked out — noting the bloc's political involvement in the region and its role as a top contributor of financial aid to the Palestinians.
Kouchner said he had written a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressing his concern.
The US administration is hoping for a breakthrough during the new rounds of negotiations set to begin Sept. 2.