The Quartet for the Middle East - A Decade of Activity

• Author: Bolborici, A.M.
• Position: Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 233-240

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 7 (56) No. 1 - 2014

THE QUARTET FOR THE MIDDLE EAST -

A DECADE OF ACTIVITY

Ana-Maria BOLBORICI1

Abstract: The theme of the paper is focused upon the problem of the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the implication of the Quartet for the Middle

East, this year the organisation is celebrating a decade of activity. The

Quartet plays a significant role in th e context of the Middle East Peace

Process (MEPP) as a political group with four important members (the UN,

the Russian Federation, the USA and the European Union). This paper

presents a few strategies of the Quartet for the Middle East conce rning the

states directly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also of

importance for the countries with interest in the evolution of the Middle East

peace process.

Key words: the Quartet for the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict, Middle East Peace Process.

1 Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Introduction

During the Cold War period many

count ries expressed their interest by acting

consequently in support ing the peace

process in the Middle East.

The end of this war produced a clear

distinction in the competition concerning

the spheres of influence between the two

important powers (Russia and the USA),

causing a major change in the balance of

the global geostrategic moment that also

reflects the changing balance of power in

the Middle East.

The historical evolution of the European

continent and, in particular, the Middle and

Near East, also reveals and confirms that

the involvement of the European

diplomacy in supporting the Israeli-

Palestinian peace is not only an effect of

the Cold War, but it is deeply rooted in the

history of the foundation of the European

peoples (see the consequences of World

War I and the implications that have

affected the eastern area, especially after

the collapse of the Ottoman Empire).

However, it should be stressed that the

European states (as unique entities)

although they didn't have an important

political role, maintained their interests

(commercial and otherwise) in the region,

but only after the ending of the Cold War,

Europe has attained real opportunities in

approaching some thorny issues, such as:

the particular issues in the Middle East and

specifically the Palestinian problem [3].