SECRETARY-GENERAL WARMLY WELCOMES ISR"LI-PALESTINIAN AGREEMENT ON MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Press Release
SG/SM/7121*
PAL/1869*

SECRETARY-GENERAL WARMLY WELCOMES ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AGREEMENT ON MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

The following statement was issued on Saturday, 4 September, by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the Israeli-Palestinian agreement on the memorandum of understanding related to the implementation of interim arrangements and the start-up of final status talks, which was signed today at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. He hopes that this new important step will pave the way for further agreements leading to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Secretary-General congratulates Prime Minister Barak and President Arafat for the successful completion of their negotiations, and President Mubarak and Secretary of State Albright for their role in facilitating this important progress.

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* Reissued for technical reasons.