Quartet statement

Statement of the Middle East Quartet











Following is the text of a statement issued after the meeting of U.N.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and EU High

Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European

Union Catherine Ashton in New York on September 23, 2011.











Begin text:







The Quartet takes note of the application submitted by President Abbas

on 23rd September 2011 which is now before the Security Council.







The Quartet reaffirmed its statement of 20th May 2011, including its

strong support for the vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace outlined by

United States President Barack Obama.







The Quartet recalled its previous statements, and affirmed its

determination to actively and vigorously seek a comprehensive resolution

of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of UN Security Council

Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515, 1850, the Madrid principles including

land for peace, the Roadmap, and the agreements previously reached

between the parties.







The Quartet reiterated its commitment to a just, lasting and

comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to seek a comprehensive

resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and reaffirms the importance of

the Arab Peace Initiative.







The Quartet reiterated its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the

current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli -Palestinian

negotiations without delay or preconditions. But it accepts that

meeting, in itself, will not re-establish the trust necessary for such a

negotiation to succeed. It therefore proposes the following steps:







1. Within a month there will be a preparatory meeting between the

parties to agree an agenda and method of proceeding in the negotiation.







2. At that meeting there will be a commitment by both sides that the

objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe

agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012. The

Quartet expects the parties to come forward with comprehensive proposals

within three months on territory and security, and to have made

substantial progress within six months. To that end, the Quartet will

convene an international conference in Moscow, in consultation with the

parties, at the appropriate time.







3. There will be a Donors Conference at which the international

community will give full and sustained support to the Palestinian

Authority state-building actions developed by Prime Minister Fayyad

under the leadership of President Abbas.







4. The Quartet recognizes the achievements of the Palestinian

Authority in preparing institutions for statehood as evidenced in

reports to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, and stresses the need to

preserve and build on them. In this regard, the members of the Quartet

will consult to identify additional steps they can actively support

towards Palestinian statehood individually and together, to secure in

accordance with existing procedures significantly greater independence

and sovereignty for the Palestinian Authority over its affairs.







5. The Quartet calls upon the parties to refrain from provocative

actions if negotiations are to be effective. The Quartet reiterated the

obligations of both parties under the Roadmap.







6. The Quartet committed to remain actively involved and to

encourage and review progress. The Quartet agreed to meet regularly and

to task the envoys and the Quartet Representative to intensify their

cooperation, including by meeting prior to the parties’ preparatory

meeting, and to formulate recommendations for Quartet action.



# # #