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Statement issued by Middle East Quartet on May 2, 2008
The Quartet:
- expressed its strong support for ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
- emphasized the importance of visible progress on the ground to build confidence and create an atmosphere supportive of negotiations
- noted that much more remained to be done to improve the situation on the ground in order to change the conditions of life in the West Bank and to keep the political process on track.
- expressed its strong backing for the planned Bethlehem Conference on Private Sector Investment in May
- looked forward to the meeting that will take place in Berlin in June to promote and coordinate donor assistance in this area
- called upon both sides to fulfill their obligations under the Road Map
- called on both sides to refrain from any steps that undermine confidence or could prejudice the outcome of negotiations (settlement activity and terrorism)
- condemned continuing rocket attacks from Gaza on southern Israel
- expressed deep concern at Palestinian civilian casualties
- expressed deep concern over humanitarian conditions in Gaza and over the closure of major Gaza crossing points given the impact on the Palestinian economy and daily life
- encouraged Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to work together to formulate a new approach on Gaza that would provide security to all Gazans, end all acts of terror, provide for the controlled and sustained opening of the Gaza crossings for humanitarian reasons and commercial flows, support the legitimate Palestinian Authority Government, and work towards conditions that would permit implementation of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access
- looked forward to a productive meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee
- called for all donors to follow through on pledges made at the December 2007 Paris Donors' Conference
- discussed the proposal for an international meeting in Moscow to lend continued support to the parties in their negotiations and efforts on the ground.
- authorized its envoys to continue to work to facilitate the achievement of all of these goal.
- reaffirmed its commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515.
Links:
[1] http://www.americantaskforce.org/resources
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