LOC10:30
07:30 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- The Middle East Quartet expressed late on
Tuesday its support for the resumption of Palestinian Israelis negotiations
and affirmed that the current situation in Gaza is not in the interests of
Palestinians or Israelis.
"The Quartet expressed its strong support for the resumption of
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which can resolve all final status issues
within one year", said the Quartet in statement after its meeting in New York.
"The Quartet reaffirmed its full commitment to its previous statements,
which provide that negotiations should lead to an agreement that ends the
occupation that began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent,
democratic, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in
peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors", added the statement.
The Middle East Quartet includes the United Nations, Russia, the United
States and the European Union.
The Quartet "reiterated its call on Israel and the Palestinians to promote
an environment conducive to progress, including by refraining from provocative
actions and inflammatory rhetoric. The Quartet noted that the commendable
Israeli settlement moratorium instituted last November has had a positive
impact and urged its continuation", notes the Quartet.
"The Quartet recalled that unilateral actions by either party, including
settlement activity, cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not
be recognized by the international community. The Quartet called upon both
sides to fulfill their obligations under the Road Map. The Quartet encouraged
the parties to work together to find a way to ensure that negotiations
continue in a constructive manner and urged the international community to
support their efforts", it added.
The Quartet also underscored "its commitment to a just, lasting, and
comprehensive Middle East peace, including Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese
agreements. In the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet called on
Arab states to support Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and progress on the
other tracks by taking bolder steps to foster positive relations throughout
the region and to combat violence and extremism".
The Quartet called upon Arab states and the international community "to
provide immediate and sustained support for the Palestinian Authority" and
affirmed that the current situation in Gaza "is not in the interests of
Palestinians or Israelis and restated its desire to see progress on the
implementation of all aspects of Security Council resolution 1860". (end)
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