Middle East Quartet Condemns Suicide Bombing In Israel, Calls On Syria To Act
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the other principles of the Diplomatic Quartet today consulted on the
latest violence in the Middle East, condemning Wednesday's terrorist attack in Israel claimed by the Damascus-based
Palestinian Islamic Jihad and calling on Syria to take immediate action against the group.
Mr. Annan spoke by telephone from New York with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, United States Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, High Representative for European Common Foreign and
Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"The Quartet urges the Syrian Government to take immediate action to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and
to prevent the use of its territory by armed groups engaged in terrorist acts," the Quartet said in a statement.
"The Quartet denounces all acts of terrorism and urges all parties to exercise restraint, avoid an escalation of
violence, and keep channels of communication open. The Quartet strongly encourages and supports the Palestinian
Authority in its immediate effort to take steps to prevent armed groups from acting against law and order and the policy
of the Authority itself."
The Quartet has sponsored the Road Map for Middle East Peace, which calls for a series of parallel steps leading to two
States living side-by-side in peace, originally by the end of this year.
"The Quartet believes it is imperative that all involved act decisively to ensure that terror and violence are not
allowed to undermine further progress in accordance with the Road Map," the statement concluded.