Quartet Members Meet With Palestinian Leaders

Diplomatic Quartet Members Meet With Palestinian Leaders In Ramallah

Envoys from the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russian Federation emphasized their support for a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict during meetings today with senior Palestinian officials in Ramallah.

In a statement following talks with Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei, the so-called Quartet also emphasized the importance of creating a climate conducive to advancing peace. "The Palestinian Authority must make progress on its security-related obligations under the Road Map," the group said, referring to a peace plan aimed at achieving a two-State solution by 2005.

Quartet members called for concrete steps on the ground - "and not passivity" - by the Palestinian Authority in order to revive the Road Map and seize the opportunity represented by Israel's initiative to withdraw from Gaza.

Voicing appreciation for Egypt's help in this process, the Quartet said it "stands ready to further those efforts and urges the Palestinian Authority to do its part by moving decisively to fulfil its security commitments."

During their talks, the envoys reviewed the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza, according to the statement.

"The Quartet remains committed to working with a responsible and accountable Palestinian Authority in pursuit of internal reform and a just, lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the members said, reminding all sides "to act in a manner necessary to achieve our common goal."

Attending the session today were the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield, European Union Special Representative Marc Otte and Russian Ambassador Alexander Kalugin.

© Scoop Media