SecGen welcomes Israel’s lifting of siege on President Arafat’s compound – UN news item

Annan welcomes Israel's decision to lift siege of President Arafat's compound 

29 September – The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today welcomed the decision of the Government of Israel to lift the siege of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Mr. Annan voiced his strong belief that both sides should fully and immediately implement Security Council resolution 1435.

Adopted early Tuesday morning, that text demanded that Israel cease measures in and around Ramallah and return to positions held prior to September 2000. In addition, it called for a complete halt to all violence, "including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction." The Palestinian Authority was called on to bring to justice those responsible for terrorist acts. The Council also threw its full backing behind efforts of the diplomatic Quartet – the UN, European Union, Russian Federation and United States – which recently outlined a road map for achieving a final settlement of the conflict in three years.

In today's statement, the Secretary-General also called on the parties to return to the negotiating table. "The best path away from violence and stalemate is through the roadmap set out by the Quartet in its 17 September communiqué which aims for a complete end of violence, the early establishment of a Palestinian State with provisional borders and a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict."