SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES MEETING BETWEEN ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS; HOPES RESULT IS SUSTAINABLE DIALOGUE, END TO VIOLENCE

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES MEETING BETWEEN ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS;

HOPES RESULT IS SUSTAINABLE DIALOGUE, END TO VIOLENCE

The following was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the meeting today between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and President Yasser Arafat.  He is extremely pleased that the parties have agreed to resume full security cooperation and to exert maximum efforts to sustain the ceasefire.  He is also encouraged by the reiteration of their full commitment to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Report and the Tenet understandings.  He is heartened by the prospect of the concrete steps to be taken by the parties, as set forth in the joint communiqué issued after the meeting.  He hopes that this meeting will result in a sustainable dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians and that the current cycle of violence can be brought to an end and the peace process resumed.

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