Brussels, 21/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - Members of the “Quartet” on the Middle East: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Russian foreign affairs minister Sergi Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, CFSP High Representative Javier Solana and the Commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner held discussions on Tuesday in New York about the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and West Bank and its impact on prospects for peace in the Middle East. In a common declaration adopted at the end of the meeting, the Quarter welcomed the way the withdrawal was carried out and affirmed that this “brace and courageous decision…should open a new chapter on the path to peace in the region”. The conclusion of the disengagement process represents an important step towards achieving the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security”, underlined the Quartet. The Palestinian Authority has been called on to maintain law and order and dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. The Quartet also underlined the importance of significant reform of the Palestinian security services. As freedom of movement in the Gaza Strip is regarded as crucial for the viability of the Palestinian Authority, the Quartet has appealed for an easing up of restrictions on freedom of movement currently in place, while respecting the demands of security in Israel. With regard to implementation of the “Road Map” for Israeli-Palestinian peace, the Quartet has called on the two sides to respect their commitments and return as soon as possible to the agenda agreed on at Sharm el-Sheik. “Contacts between the parties should be intensified at all levels”. The Quartet also discussed the Russian proposal of organising a Middle East international experts' meeting in Moscow.
Addressing the press in New York, Ferrero-Waldner highlighted the need to improve freedom of movement for the Palestinians in and around the Gaza Strip and West Bank. She affirmed that “Without mobility there can be no regeneration of the Palestinian economy”. For this reason, the Commissioner explained that the European Commission should concentrate much of its assistance on projects that will facilitate movement not only between the Gaza and the West Bank, but also open up travel to the wider world. The Commissioner added that all this would, however, depend on parallel reinforcement of Palestinian border controls and the guaranteed security of Israel. Ferrero-Waldner also announced that the EU was prepared to help efforts in providing a European presence (of observers) at the Rafah border post between the Gaza Strip and West Bank.