Middle East Quartet Endorses Latest Peace Talks Initiative, Ban Ki-Moon Says
New York, Feb 2 2007 8:00PM
Voicing deep concern at the explosion of intra-Palestinian violence, the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East today
called for Palestinian unity while offering its backing for United States efforts to restart peace talks between Israel
and the Palestinians, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, one member of the grouping.
Meeting in Washington, D.C., the Quartet – which comprises high-level representatives of the UN, the US, Russia and the
European Union – said it also hoped that recent dialogue between leaders of the two sides could lead to the launch of
meaningful negotiations to solve the long-standing conflict.
In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sg2122.doc.htm">statement read out by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
following the meeting, Quartet members said upcoming talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “could begin to define more clearly the political
horizon for the Palestinian people, and help engender a sense of partnership.
Welcoming the meeting on 23 December between Mr. Olmert and Mr. Abbas, the Quartet called on both sides to refrain from
any measures that might pre-determine the content of future negotiations and to meet any obligations under recent
agreements.
They stressed their support for a solution based on the Roadmap, the plan which calls for an independent, democratic and
viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel. The recent Arab Peace Initiative was
welcomed, “particularly its reflection of a shared commitment to a two-State solution.”
But they said the recent surge in violence between rival Palestinian groups was of “deep concern,” and called for
Palestinian unity behind a government committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of the obligations
under the Roadmap.
The statement also condemned the suicide bombing in the Israeli seaside town of Eilat earlier this week and demanded an
immediate end to all rocket attacks against Israel.
Quartet members stressed that international assistance to the Palestinian people should continue, and they encouraged
donors “to focus on preserving and building the capacity of institutions of Palestinian governance.”
Today’s Quartet meeting – which was Mr. Ban’s first – also featured Ms. Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,
the EU’s High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External
Relations Benito Ferrero-Waldner and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Ends