Road Map implementation – Quartet teleconference at ministerial level – Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry press release/Non-UN document

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

Middle East Quartet Teleconference at Ministerial Level

1710-13-08-2005

A teleconference of the Middle East Quartet took place on August 12 at ministerial level, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. Issues related to the implementation of the Road Map for Middle East settlement were considered.

In discussing the situation in Palestinian-Israeli relations on the eve of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern part of the West Bank, the importance was noted of preserving calm and maintaining security in all the stages of implementation of this plan. The Quartet members pointed out the importance of the coordination of actions by the sides. They gave a positive assessment to the efforts by the Quartet's special representative, James Wolfensohn, and his team in dealing with practical issues arising in connection with Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and expressed support for his mission in fostering engagement between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority and carrying out projects for the economic and social development of the Palestinian territories.

It was agreed to carry on contacts within the Quartet framework with the aim of assisting Palestinian-Israeli settlement. Agreement was reached to hold a ministerial Quartet meeting in New York on September 20 in the course of the work of the UN General Assembly. At this meeting it is borne in mind to consider the initiative of Russia for the convocation in Moscow this autumn of a high-level working meeting of experts for a comprehensive assessment of the state of affairs in Middle East settlement at the stage after Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank.