The Palestinians and Israel called on the international Quartet and the international community on Sunday to continue their support to the peace negotiations resumed a year ago at a U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed the Quartet developments of the Palestinian-Israeli talks at a meeting in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
"President Abbas and Minister Livni ... requested continued support from the Quartet and all members of the international community," said a statement following the meeting.
The international Quartet, which groups the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, evaluated developments of the Mideast peace process, particularly peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.
At the U.S.-hosted Annapolis conference on Mideast peace last November, Palestinian and Israeli leaders pledged to try to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008.
But the United States admitted that it's unlikely for the two sides to reach a deal in the year.
In the statement, the Quartet reiterated its commitment to supporting the Palestinian-Israeli talks, called on the two sides to continue their talks.
"Without minimizing the gaps and obstacles that remain, the representatives of the parties shared their assessment that the present negotiations are substantial and promising," the final statement said, adding "they have succeeded in putting in place a solid negotiation structure for continued progress in the future."
The Quartet called on the parties concerned to assist in the development of Palestinian economy and "contribute to the Palestinian institution-building program in preparation for statehood."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Quartet envoy Tony Blair attended the meeting.
Source:Xinhua
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