Off the wire
• UN chief calls for early return to peace, stability in Mali  • Ghana issues guide for election candidates  • AU deploys observation mission to Cape Verde election  • (Recast) Spotlight: No "political resolve" to move TTIP talks to final stage  • Morocco requests to join African Union  • Oil prices fall after rallying for two sessions  • U.S. dollar rises against most major currencies  • Victims of Britain's worst football tragedy posthumously given freedom of Liverpool  • Croatia's unemployment rate down for seven straight months  • Ethiopia sees China as a serious development partner: minister  
You are here: 　 Home

Middle East Quartet calls for early resumption of Israel-Palestine peace talks

Xinhua, September 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Middle East Quartet on Friday called for an early resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians in order to bring peace and stability to the Middle East region on the basis of the two-state solution.

In a statement issued here, the Quartet reiterated its call on the parties to "create the conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues."

"The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace," the statement said.

The Quartet expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion in Area C and East Jerusalem, including the retroactive "legalization" of existing units, and "the continued high rate of demolitions of Palestinian structures, are steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution," the statement said.

"The Quartet expressed serious concern for the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the closures of the crossings as well as for the illicit arms build-up and activity by militant Palestinian groups, including rockets fired towards Israel, which increase the risk of renewed conflict," the statement said.

"The Quartet condemned the recent resurgence of violence and called on all sides to take all necessary steps to de-escalate tensions by exercising restraint, preventing incitement, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric, and protecting the lives and property of all civilians," said the statement.

The statement was issued here at the end of a meeting of representatives of the Quartet -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

The Quartet Principals were joined by the foreign ministers of Egypt and France during the second part of the meeting to brief on their work to support Middle East peace, the statement said.

"All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution."

The Quartet is a diplomatic group in search of the realization of the two-state solution, which means a secure Israel to live in peace with an independent State of Palestine. Endit