UN Unveils Three-phrase Peace Plan for Mideast

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 01, 2003

UN Unveils Three-phrase Peace Plan for Mideast

The United Nations on Wednesday released the long-awaited "roadmap" peace plan for the Middle East, which was cosponsored also by the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation.

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The United Nations on Wednesday released the long-awaited "roadmap" peace plan for the Middle East, which was cosponsored also by the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation.

The performance-based and goal-driven roadmap made clear phases, timelines, target dates and benchmarks aiming at progress through reciprocal steps by the two parties in the Middle East to achieve a "final and comprehensive" settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict by 2005.

The peace plan outlines three phase to achieve the final goal for lasting peace in the region. In the starting phase, the peace mediators designated a short period from now to May to end terror and violence, normalize Palestinian life and build Palestinian institutions.

In this phase, the Palestinian leadership should issue an unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security, while the Israeli leadership should match the step by affirming its commitment to the two-state vision of an "independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state" living alongside Israel.

In the following up phase, or a "transition phase" which lasts till the end of this year, an international conference would be convened by the Quartet, immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support its economic recovery and launch a process leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders.

Also in the phase, a new constitution for the Palestinian state should be finalized and approved by appropriate Palestinian institutions, and a cabinet with office of prime minister should be formally established.

From 2004 to 2005, the roadmap envisions a final phase to end the conflict and endorse a permanent status agreement between the two parties.

Following the publication of the roadmap, the composers, the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union issued a joint statement urging the acceptance of the plan.

"The Quartet today presents to the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority a Road Map to realize the vision shared by the United States, the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United Nations of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security," it said.

The Quartet pledged to work with the parties and key regional actors toward the implementation of the Road Map.

The presentation of the Road Map took place in Ramallah within hours of the swearing in of the new Palestinian government. The document was handed over to Prime Minister Abu Mazen by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, the acting US Consul General in East Jerusalem, Jeff Feldman, the Russian Federation's Middle East envoy, Andrei Vodvin,and the European Union's Middle East Envoy, Miguel Moratinos.

The four handed the key document just over an hour after the US ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, presented the plan to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem.

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