SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCEMENT BY PALESTINIAN GROUPS

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCEMENT BY PALESTINIAN GROUPS

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

GENEVA, 30 June –- The Secretary-General welcomes the ceasefire announcement made today by Palestinian groups.  He hopes that the groups, the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will do everything necessary to ensure that the ceasefire represents a full and complete end to violence and terror and is a turning point in breaking the cycle of violence between Palestinians and Israelis.  The Secretary-General commends the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for its sustained efforts to help bring about this ceasefire.

Along with the agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip and Bethlehem, today’s ceasefire announcement offers a glimpse of hope.  The task now is to press ahead with the difficult process of implementing the Road Map, so as to make a reality of the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.

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