MIDDLE EAST QUARTET ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN TALKS

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN TALKS
New York, Nov 9 2008 1:10PM
The Middle East diplomatic Quartet, which includes the United Nations, today called on the international community to put its full weight behind Israel and the Palestinians in their efforts to resolve their long-running conflict after the two sides reported that current negotiations are "substantial and promising."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed the Quartet at a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the latest developments under the negotiating track launched a year ago in the United States city of Annapolis.

Mr. Abbas and Ms. Livni told the Quartet, which comprises the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States, that they have succeeded in securing a solid negotiating structure for continued progress.

The two officials said Israel and the Palestinians have engaged not only on core issues, but also on other t
opics necessary to turn into reality the two-State solution outlined under the so-called Road Map peace process.

Outlining the key principles guiding the negotiations, Mr. Abbas and Ms. Livni said the negotiations must remain continuous, uninterrupted, direct and bilateral, and that nothing would be considered agreed until everything was agreed. They also said the negotiations also need to reach a comprehensive agreement addressing all the issues, as agreed at Annapolis, rather than announce agreement on selected items in isolation.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Quartet "reiterated its call to the parties to fully implement their obligations under phase one of the Roadmap, including in relation to freezing settlement activity and the dismantlement of the infrastructure of terrorism."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended today''s meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh on behalf of the UN, and Quartet''s Representative Tony Blair also participated.

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Nov 9
2008 1:10PM
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