Annan, Powell and other Middle East 'quartet' officials to meet Wednesday

Responding to the ongoing violence in the Middle East, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to meet on Wednesday with senior officials from the three other components of the diplomatic 'quartet' - the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation, according to a UN spokesman.

Mr. Annan, who is in Madrid today, prepared for tomorrow's meeting by conferring with his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, spokesman Fred Eckhard told the press in New York.

The meeting, to be held in the Spanish capital, will include the participation of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique representing the rotating Presidency of the European Union, European Security Chief Javier Solana, and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Participants are expected to issue a joint declaration following their meeting.

The quartet has met only once previously at this level, during the General Assembly session last Fall in New York. "The principals have remained in touch mainly by phone since, and they have been coordinating regularly on the ground," Mr. Eckhard said.