SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES MEETING BETWEEN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER,

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT

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

As the announced date for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank, 15 August 2005, approaches, the Secretary-General has been following events concerning the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory carefully.  He welcomes the meeting today between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and looks forward to evaluating the situation at the meeting of the Quartet in London later this week.

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