Peace efforts continue in the Middle East.

• Author: Sura, Vikram
• Position: Brief Article

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast said that there was "strong support" for the Quartet's efforts towards the realization of a vision of two States--Israel and Palestine--living side by side in peace and security. The Quartet, consisting of the United Nations, United States, European Union and the Russian Federation, had prepared in September 2002 a "road map" towards peace, which underscored that both parties must take reciprocal steps in dealing with their political, humanitarian and security concerns, set out in three phases: the first involves parallel implementation of a complete ceasefire, improvement in humanitarian conditions, promotion of Palestinian institution-building, and a halt to all Israeli settlement construction. In the second phase, in 2003, efforts would focus on creating a Palestinian State with provisional borders and based on a new constitution. In the third, from 2004 to mid-2005, the Quartet envisions Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status solution.

Peace efforts continued elsewhere, with a...