SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECISION BY ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT ROAD MAP

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECISION BY ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT ROAD MAP

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

The Secretary-General 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.

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