Ain-Al-Yaqeen - February 9, 2007

		February 9, 2007

THE QUARTET REITERATES ITS CALL FOR THE RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL BEFORE RESUMING PROVIDING AIDS TO THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT.
THE QUARTET WILL MEET IN GERMANY AFTER A TRILATERAL MEETING BETWEEN ABBAS, RICE AND OLMERT.
THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND GOVERNMENT CRITICIZE THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE QUARTET.
RUSSIA TALKS OF A POSSIBILITY OF CONVENING A NEW INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE MIDDLE EAST.

Voicing deep concern at the explosion of intra-Palestinian violence, the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East called for Palestinian unity while offering its backing for United States efforts to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, one member of the grouping.

Meeting in Washington, D.C., the Quartet which comprises high-level representatives of the UN, the US, Russia and the European Union said it also hoped that recent dialogue between leaders of the two sides could lead to the launch of meaningful negotiations to solve the long-standing conflict.

In a statement read out by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon following the meeting, Quartet members said upcoming talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "could begin to define more clearly the political horizon for the Palestinian people, and help engender a sense of partnership."

Welcoming the meeting on 23 December between Mr. Olmert and Mr. Abbas, the Quartet called on both sides to refrain from any measures that might pre-determine the content of future negotiations and to meet any obligations under recent agreements.

They stressed their support for a solution based on the Roadmap, the plan which calls for an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel. The recent Arab Peace Initiative was welcomed, "particularly its reflection of a shared commitment to a two-State solution."

But they said the recent surge in violence between rival Palestinian groups was of "deep concern," and called for Palestinian unity behind a government committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of the obligations under the Roadmap.

The statement also condemned the suicide bombing in the Israeli seaside town of Eilat earlier this week and demanded an immediate end to all rocket attacks against Israel.

Quartet members stressed that international assistance to the Palestinian people should continue, and they encouraged donors "to focus on preserving and building the capacity of institutions of Palestinian governance."

The Quartet meeting which was Mr. Ban's first also featured Ms. Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the EU's High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benito Ferrero-Waldner and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Following is the text of a statement issued by the Quartet ( United Nations, Russian Federation, United States and European Union):

The Quartet Principals -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner -- met today in Washington to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

The Quartet welcomed United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the representative of the European Union Presidency, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Recognizing the critical need to end the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, which would contribute to security and stability in the region, the Quartet pledged to support efforts to put in place a process with the goal of ending the occupation that began in 1967 and creating an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, and reaffirmed its commitment to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

The Quartet expressed the hope that the result-oriented dialogue initiated between Israeli and Palestinian leaders will continue in the framework of a renewed political process with the aim of launching meaningful negotiations.

The Quartet undertook to give active follow-up to these meetings and to remain closely engaged at this moment of increased activity and dialogue. The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to meet regularly at both the principals and envoys level according to an agreed calendar, including with the parties and other regional partners, to monitor developments and actions taken by the parties and to discuss the way ahead.

The Quartet noted its support for renewed dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and welcomed the 23 December meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, and the subsequent implementation of some steps discussed at that meeting. The Quartet urged the parties to implement fully steps discussed at the 23 December meeting, to refrain from taking any measures that could predetermine the number of issues that will be resolved in negotiations, to meet their respective obligations under phase one of the Road Map and under the Agreement on Movement and Access, and to seek to fulfil their obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh Understandings of 2005.

The Quartet discussed United States efforts to facilitate discussions between the parties. The Quartet welcomed the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Olmert, President Abbas, and Secretary of State Rice, that could begin to define more clearly the political horizon for the Palestinian people, and help engender a sense of partnership. The Quartet affirmed the primacy of the Road Map, and welcomed United States efforts to accelerate progress on the Road Map.

The Quartet noted the continuing importance of the Arab Peace Initiative, particularly its reflection of a shared commitment to a two-State solution.

The Quartet reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional end to all acts of violence and terror. It condemned the suicide bombing in Eilat on 29 January and called once again for an immediate end to all rocket attacks against Israel.

The Quartet expressed its deep concern at the violence among Palestinians and called for respect for law and order.

The Quartet called for continued international assistance to the Palestinian people, and encouraged donors to focus on preserving and building the capacity of institutions of Palestinian governance, as well as the development of the Palestinian economy. The Quartet welcomed international efforts to reform the Palestinian security sector and thus to help improve law and order for the Palestinian people. It called for the Temporary International Mechanism to be further developed to support the political process, to identify suitable projects for international support in the areas of governance, institution-building and economic development, and urged other members of the international community to consider practical support to the parties.

The Quartet called for Palestinian unity in support of a Government committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Road Map. The Quartet reaffirmed that these principles endure. The Quartet reiterated its call for the Palestinian Authority Government to commit to these principles.

Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud al-Zahar called on the Quartet to open a dialogue with his democratically elected government, his spokesman said.

"Foreign minister Zahar sent a letter to the members of the Quartet (the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States) asking them to open a dialogue with the Palestinian government in order to reach stability and calm in the region," Taher al-Nunu said.

Major powers endorsed a US plan to accelerate efforts to achieve an Arab-Iraeli peace deal and establish a Palestinian state.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted the meeting of her counterparts from Russia, the European Union and United Nations.

In the final communique read out by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Quartet expressed its "deep concern" over the factional fighting and called for an end to continuing Palestinian militant attacks on Israel.

The group supported Rice's new approach to move forward on two fronts -- strengthening President Mahmoud Abbas' ability to govern and ensure security while, in parallel, holding talks on critical "final status" issues like the borders of a Palestinian state and the future of Al Quds.

"There is simply no reason to avoid the subject of how we get to a Palestinian state," Rice said at a joint press conference with Ban, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Rice declined to set any new timetable for the process.

The meeting was a prelude to a three-way meeting later this month between Rice, Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"We're doing this in an environment where, frankly, there is a lot of stress on each of the parties," a senior US official acknowledged.

Steinmeier, participating because Germany currently holds the rotating EU presidency, was equally cautious.

"We are realistic enough to know it's not something that can be achieved overnight," he said.

The Quartet last Friday reaffirmed the boycott would remain in place until a Palestinian government that agrees to the principles is in place.

Both Hamas and Fatah condemned the Quartet's aid boycott stance, with Hamas calling it "decisions that ignore reality" and Fatah saying it had hoped "the oppressive siege on the Palestinian people" would be lifted.

The Palestinian Presidency spokesperson Nabeel Abu Rudeineh affirmed the importance of a quick implementation of the roadmap as well as a clear announcement of the quartet's stand from violating this map.

In statements, Abu Rudeineh said that it was expected from the quartet to take a decision on lifting the blockade on Palestinians to ease suffering and prepare the floor for resuming the peace process.

In Cairo and on the Palestinian arena, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit welcomed the outcome of Friday's meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quartet; the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, in Washington, during which they stressed the dire need to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with UNSCR 242.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers also underlined the need to put an end to the 1967 Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.

In a Foreign Ministry statement, Abul-Gheit said that the Quartet's stand was in conformity with Egypt's vision of achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East region.

In the statement, Abul-Gheit added that Egypt had always called for focusing on the Palestinian cause as the crux of conflict in the region and resuming negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

The Palestinian side needs assurances and guarantees as to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with permanent borders, as well as the status of Al-Quds, said Abul-Gheit, adding that such guarantees were necessary to give credibility to the peace process.

Abul-Gheit also voiced his satisfaction with the Quartet's stand calling for reactivating political negotiations, stressing that Egypt would continue its contacts with all parties concerned to boost efforts exerted to re-energize the stalled peace process and settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Abul-Gheit received a phone call from his Israeli counterpart Tzibi Livni during which they reviewed ongoing efforts to re-launch the long-stalled Middl East peace march and resume the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alaa Al-Hadidi said Abul-Gheit stressed the importance of re-launching of talks over all problems obstructing a final settlement between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Abul-Gheit said that both sides should be encouraged to re-engage in political peace talks and should stop hinging their tackling of final-status settlement issues on the implementation of the first phase of the Roadmap.

According to the spokesman, Abul-Gheit and Livni agreed on arranging a visit to Cairo by the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Secretary General for more detailed talks on Egyptian stand and issues connected with bilateral ties.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the Quartet, or the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, will meet again soon in Berlin to promote the Middle East peace process.

"I'm happy about the fact that we've been able to agree on a second meeting of the quartet to take place once the trilateral talks have taken place amongst (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert, (Palestinian leader (Mahmoud) Abbas and our American colleague," Steinmeier said through a translator at a press conference.

"And we will then meet again, fairly soon, in Berlin," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condollezza Rice will embark a visit to the Middle East this month to have a meeting with Olmert and Abbas to push the stalled Middle East peace process.

The Quartet held a meeting in Washington on Friday and expressed welcome over the upcoming trilateral meeting as well as U.S. efforts to accelerate progress on the Middle East peace process.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov returned to Moscow upon completion of his trip to the United States.

While in Washington, the Russian minister took part in the Quartet of peace brokers and had meetings with U.S. officials. The talks focused on different issues, including the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, the Kosovo settlement, the WTO and others.

On Iran, Lavrov said the United States assured Russia that it had no plans for war against Iran. "During the talks in the American capital, we touched on the U.S. efforts to intensify its presence in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. side assured us that the presence of additional forces in the Persian Gulf is aimed at stabilising the situation and allaying anxieties of Gulf countries."

Russia and the United States "agreed to continue their work in the U.N. Security Council on the Iranian nuclear problem, combining measures of diplomatic influence on Tehran with urging Iran to return to the negotiating process," the Russian minister stressed.

On the Middle East, Lavrov said he did not rule out a possibility of convening a new international conference on the Middle East. The expediency of convening the new international conference on the Middle East "remains in the agenda".

"Firstly, the conference should be well prepared. We always support this. Secondly, the agreements on the regular work of Quartet, involvement of other regional countries in it, as well as within the Palestinian-Israeli format, extends our common joint efforts," the Russian minister stressed.

"The last Quartet statement envisages creating a mechanism for international support that will include support for the political process and for the solution to economic problems on Palestinian territories," he said. "This is qualitatively new stage in the Quartet work and in the whole settlement. I hope that we will able to turn political goodwill into practice," Lavrov pointed out.

In the US and during the meeting of the World Affairs Councils of American (WACA) King Abdullah II underlined the importance to move the peace process forward, as well as to find a just solution for Palestinian issue.

The King's remarks were read on his behalf by Nabil Haddad, Executive Director of the Jordan's Research Center for the Coexistence between religions. King Abdullah stressed the importance to find a solution based on the international legitimacy resolutions and Arab initiative that lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

King Abdullah condemned attempts target the nature of the Islamic places and eradicate their Islamic landmark, moreover, King warned against desecration of Islamic sacred places.

King Abdullah renewed Jordan's commitment to fully supporting the Israeli-Arabs and offering services and facilitation for them.

On the other hand at a conference titled BRIDGING THE DESERT: the Middle East in the Next Decade, held by the World Affairs Council of America, David Welch, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State, Washington, DC, spoke of the conflicts in the Middle East. He underlined the problems going on in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.

He said the Middle East is at a crossroads. He warned that the result of the developments of these conflicts will have serious consequences on the national security of the United States. Welch strongly criticized Iran, describing it as the main sponsor of terrorism in the world.

The speech of David Welch came during the conference of WACA which said that "The Middle East continues to grow in importance on the world stage, amid much uncertainty as to its future. Its economic base may well be threatened because of growing instabilities at a political level and the changing oil markets. However, many governments, individuals, and organizations are actively pursuing a future in which the Middle East is in a position of stability and power. The conference examined the diversity of views and ideas being put forth by such voices, while providing an opportunity for members to engage in dialogues with representatives from throughout the Middle East."

On another development an official source at the UAE Foreign Ministry voiced astonishment at the news that the country has allegedly sent weapons and ammunitions to Gaza strip.

The source dismissed the news as "false and baseless." "The UAE sent only bullet proof vests, vehicles and tents for the Presidential Guard. They were dispatched on request of the Palestinian Presidency," the source said.

"These are equipments, not weapons. They were not sent to a certain faction but to the highest authority that represents all Palestinian people." The source called on all parties in Gaza strip to stop fighting and to focus their efforts on resuming dialogue and strengthening national unity. He reiterated UAE's respect to the independent Palestinian decision and its keen efforts in support of the Palestinian people.

"The humanitarian aid given by the UAE to the brotherly Palestinian people is a living example that we always seek to help and support Palestinian people to cling firmly to their land, to overcome difficult and tragic conditions and to achieve their ultimate goal of establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," added the source.