Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Middle East

The Secretary-General wishes to express his full support for and confidence in Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen. As his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Roed-Larsen speaks on his behalf.

In his briefing to the Security Council on 13 July, Mr. Roed-Larsen's intention was to convey concerns within the Quartet and more widely in the international community regarding a lack of implementation by both parties of their Road Map obligations. There is a consensus within the Quartet that: the Palestinian Authority must carry out its reform process, including the full empowerment of the Palestinian Prime Minister; the Government of Israel must dismantle settlement outposts and freeze settlement activity; and both sides must return to the negotiating table.

The Secretary-General believes that the parties need to focus on the tasks at hand in order to work towards the just, lasting and comprehensive settlement that is so urgently needed.