Mideast settlement/Palestine question - Spokesman's Office (excerpts)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

/…

ANNAN WELCOMES ISRAELI ACCEPTANCE OF ROAD MAP

[Tuesday afternoon, the Secretary-General, in a statement issued through his Spokesman, welcomes the decision taken by the Israeli government to accept the Road Map .
He expects the parties to embark swiftly on implementing the Road Map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in the security, humanitarian, economic and political fields.
The Secretary-General reiterates his firmly held belief that only such steps can put an end to terror and violence, provide security and peace, and fulfill the vision of two states living side by side: a secure and prosperous Israel and a viable, democratic and sovereign Palestine.
The Secretary-General underscores the commitment of the United Nations along with the other Quartet partners to helping the Israelis and Palestinians to proceed along the road of peace and reconciliation as operationalized through the Road Map.]
Earlier in the day, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, who has been in Beirut for the last two days and had met with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, said the roadmap is a more radical and far-reaching document than any previous peace plan in the Middle East. Asked if he expected any changes in the Road Map, Larsen said no. "Nobody has any intention of re-opening the roadmap, re-writing it or re-negotiating it, Larsen added."

/…

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162 – press/media only
Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

Mideast settlement/Palestine question – Spokesman’s Office (excerpts)