UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday strongly urged the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to work with each other in an effort for peace in the Middle East.

Annan made the remarks at the solemn meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People held by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

"Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians' success in ensuring calm during that period had raised hopes for a renewal of the political process," the Secretary-General said.

However, he also pointed out the ensuing upsurge in violence seriously undermined the fledgling coordination between the parties, bring back feelings of frustration and disappointment.

Annan stressed that a new opportunity has emerged to cooperate effectively and bring about tangible benefits in the lives of ordinary people - particularly among Palestinians, after the agreement two weeks ago to open the Rafah crossing.

Therefore, he strongly urged the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to work with each other with the Quartet to ensure that the agreement is implemented in full and time, and to give new impetus to meeting their obligations under the Road Map.

Annan believed that Palestinians need to be assured that the future viability of a Palestinian State will not be eroded by settlement expansion and barrier construction, and Israelis need to be assured that their security will not be compromised by failure to act decisively against terror.

"Performance of Road Map obligations is the way to move forward towards the shared goal of a sovereign, contiguous and democratic Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel," he added.

Source: Xinhua