New York, 18/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the meeting on 17 September in New York at ministerial level, the Middle East Quartet backed the European Union's roadmap for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in a statement by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, EU Council President Per Stig Moeller (and the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, as well as European Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten), Colin Powell, American Secretary of State, and Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister. The Quartet states that: - the initial phase, up to the first half of 2003, has, notably, to comprise a reform of the Palestinian security system, Israeli withdrawal to "their position of September 28, 2000" and the holding of "free, fair and credible elections" for the Palestinians "early in 2003"; - the second phase, in 2003, should focus on "the option of creating a Palestinian State with provisional borders based upon a new constitution"; - the final phase (2004-2005) should provide for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations "aimed at a permanent status solution in 2005". The statement by the Quartet stipulates that, "consistent with the vision expressed by President Bush, this means that the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between the parties and based on UN resolutions 242 and 338". The statement condemns "violence and terror, which must end", and states that "consistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission, Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop".