September 26, 2003, Quartet statement in New York

Reaffirming its commitment to the Road Map for Middle East peace, the diplomatic Quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States September 26 called on both Israelis and Palestinians to do more to address each other's concerns.

"The Quartet members view with great concern the situation in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza," Secretary General Kofi Annan said, reading a summary statement on behalf of the Quartet. "Each party must do more to address, immediately and simultaneously, the core concerns of the other, as described in the Road Map."

The Quartet held a one-hour meeting while principal officials of the four parties were at U.N. headquarters attending the opening of the 58th General Assembly. Participating, in addition to Annan, were U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Foreign Minister Franco Fratini of Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).

Also attending the session was Javier Solana, EU high representative for common foreign and security policy, and Chris Patten, external relations commissioner for the European Commission.

The Quartet statement said that Palestinians must take immediate decisive steps against individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks. They also called on Israel to exert maximum efforts to avoid civilian casualties and said that settlement activity must stop.

Following is the text of the Quartet statement read by Annan:

(begin text)

On behalf of the Quartet, I wish to read out a very brief summary of the Quartet meeting.

The Quartet members view with great concern the situation in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

Each party must do more to address, immediately and simultaneously, the core concerns of the other, as described in the Road Map. The Quartet members reaffirm their commitment to the Road Map and to resumed progress by the parties toward its rapid implementation.

The Quartet members condemn the vicious terror attacks of August and September. They call on Palestinians to take immediate, decisive steps against individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks.

The Quartet members recognize Israel's legitimate right to self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks against its citizens. In this context, and in the context of international humanitarian law, they call on the Government of Israel to exert maximum efforts to avoid civilian casualties. The Quartet members reaffirm that, in accordance with the Road Map, settlement activity must stop.

The Quartet looks forward to continuing to work closely together, as well as in association with regional parties, to help achieve progress between Israelis and Palestinians as well as toward the goal of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.

To this end they hope to meet again at Principals level before the end of the year.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)