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UN-backed Middle East Quartet calls on Israel, Palestinians to discuss core issues

UN-backed Middle East Quartet calls on Israel, Palestinians to discuss core issues

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (third from right) address joint press conference of the Quartet
The international grouping, including the United Nations, which is seeking to promote peace in the Middle East today called on all Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence and recognition of Israel, and on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

The international grouping, including the United Nations, which is seeking to promote peace in the Middle East today called on all Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence and recognition of Israel, and on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

The so-called diplomatic Quartet – comprising the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States – commended Palestinian Authority efforts to reform the security sector and confront militias and terrorism, as well as Israeli steps to ease access and movement.

“We had a very fruitful meeting and exchange of views on the way forward and agreed to support the negotiation process between the parties and to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters after the Quartet’s meeting at UN Headquarters in New York

The Quartet, which champions the Road Map plan foreseeing a two-State solution with Israel and the Palestinians living side by side in peace, reaffirmed its support for the bilateral and comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and commended the parties for their serious and continuous efforts.

“The Quartet expressed its desire to see the continuation of the solid negotiating structure, involving substantive discussions on all issues, including core issues without exception,” the group said in a communiqué.

It encouraged further steps to ease conditions for Palestinian civilian life and the economy, and called on the parties to re-double their cooperative efforts on security to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and safety.

“The Quartet expressed deep concern about increasing settlement activity, which has a damaging impact on the negotiating environment and is an impediment to economic recovery,” the communiqué added.

It called on the parties to avoid actions that undermine confidence and could prejudice the outcome of the negotiations, condemning the recent rise in settler violence against Palestinian civilians and urging the enforcement of the rule of law without discrimination or exception.

It also condemned acts of terrorism against Israelis, including any rocket attacks emanating from the Palestinian territories, and stressed the need for further Palestinian efforts to fight terrorism and dismantle the infrastructure of terror, as well as foster an atmosphere of tolerance.

The Quartet commended Egypt for its efforts to overcome Palestinian divisions and reunite the West Bank and Gaza under the legitimate Palestinian Authority, and voiced the hope that continuing calm between Gaza and southern Israel would lead to further relief for Gaza’s civilian population, including the regular opening of crossings for both humanitarian and commercial flows.

Mr. Ban was joined today by European Union (EU) High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Also present were European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Representative for the Quartet.