Quartet envoys meet to plan next steps in implementation of Middle East Road Map

The diplomatic Quartet for the Middle East - comprising the United Nations, United States, Russian Federation and European Union - is meeting at the envoys level today to discuss how to move ahead with the implementation of the Road Map peace plan.

Attending the meeting this evening in Tel Aviv are the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, Russian Envoy Andrei Vdovin, EU Envoy Miguel Moratinos and US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns.

The Road Map - which calls for a series of parallel steps by the Israelis and Palestinians over the next three years towards a realizing the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security - was handed over to the parties last week.

"The members of the Quartet will work with the parties and key regional actors towards the implementation of the Road Map, in accordance with that vision," the group said in a statement released after the handover of the document.