The Quartet meeting, involving the United States, the United
Nations, the European Union and Russia, reaffirmed on Friday its
support for the Middle East peace process and the establishment of
a Palestinian state.
The quartet of Middle East negotiators,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L), German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd L), U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
(3rd L), US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (2nd R) and High
Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier
Solana (R) depart a news conference after meeting at the US
Department of State in Washington Feb. 2, 2007.
"The quartet welcomes the upcoming meeting between (Israeli)
Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert, (Palestinian) President (Mahmoud)
Abbas and (US) Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice," UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in a statement after the meeting
held here.
"The quartet affirmed the primacy of the road map and welcomed
US efforts to accelerate progress on the road map," Ban said,
adding that the quartet noted the continuing importance of the Arab
peace initiative, particularly its reflection of a shared
commitment to a two-state solution.
Ban also said that the Quartet calls for end of violence and
terror as well as Palestinian unity.
The Quartet held a meeting one year ago and issued a statement
urging Hamas, who won the Palestinian legislative elections at that
time, to renounce violence, recognize Israel as well as previous
peace agreements between Palestine and Israel. However, Hamas has
rejected the appeal.
The United States has suspended contacts and aid to the
Hamas-led Palestinian government and said Hamas will not be a peace
partner unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2007)
