G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Kyoto, 27 June 2008) – Chairman’s statement/Peace process – Non-UN document

G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING
(KYOTO, JUNE 27, 2008)

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

G8 Foreign Ministers met in Kyoto on June 26 and 27 to discuss a range of global and regional issues. The meeting exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and Zimbabwe – on which we have issued a separate statement respectively – Pakistan, the Middle East, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar and Sudan among other issues.

Middle East

Foreign Ministers reiterated the G8's full support for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement by the end of 2008 on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and an end to the conflict. We call on all parties to refrain from any action that would undermine the negotiations and to implement their Road Map obligations, such as freezing all settlement activities and ending all acts of violence, terrorism and incitement. We also emphasized the importance of improving the situation on the ground and call on the parties concerned to take positive steps to that end including those on facilitating movement and access. We welcome the truce in Gaza that came into effect recently and call for its observance. We remain committed to continuing to provide assistance to the Palestinians, including those in Gaza, and helping to strengthen the Palestinian institutions and call on other donors to do the same. We look forward to a comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbors, and in that regard welcome the ongoing indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria under the auspices of Turkey. We support the statement of the Quartet made in Berlin on convening an international meeting in Moscow which is expected to lend support to the process launched in Annapolis. The Ministers also welcomed the recent political progress in Lebanon and reaffirmed the support for a sovereign, independent and democratic Lebanon. We call on all parties to comply with relevant UNSCRs and encourage them to rapidly proceed in the formation of the new government without resorting to violence.

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