The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.

The Secretary-General congratulated the President for the raising later today of the flag of Palestine as a non-member Observer State.

They discussed the situation in the occupied West Bank, especially recent developments in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the need for both sides to defuse tensions. The Secretary-General underscored the need to make progress on intra-Palestinian reconciliation.

They also discussed President Abbas' diplomatic initiatives and the future of the Middle East peace process. The Secretary-General reiterated that a political horizon must be restored without further delay for a resumption of peace negotiations towards a two-state solution.