 |
Annan Hopes Arafat's Pledge Will Lead to End of Violence
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that he hoped commitment by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will lead to a cessation of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A statement issued by his spokesman said Annan was pleased to hear of the commitment given to his special envoy Terje Roed- Larsen by Arafat.
Annan also expressed the hope that the planned meeting between Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will take place as soon as possible, and will enable both parties to engage in well-prepared and substantive talks, leading to the resumption of the peace process, said the statement.
It quoted Annan as saying that the need for a negotiated political settlement, based on relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and the land-for-peace principle has never been greater.
In a late-night meeting with Annan's special envoy, Roed-Larsen, Arafat committed himself to giving the necessary orders to all branches of the Palestinian security services to ensure that all clauses of agreements between the two parties are fully implemented and that no violations should occur.
Earlier, Roed-Larsen spoke to Peres and other senior Israeli officials, as well as Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Abu Ala and Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Abu Mazen.
Roed-Larsen said he was encouraged that both parties had repeatedly underscored their commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Tenet Agreement and the Mitchell Report.
The Mitchell Report, named after former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, like the Tenet Agreement brokered by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet in June, calls for a cease- fire by both sides and other measures in an effort to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
Violence began almost a year ago following the forcible visit of Ariel Sharon to a controversial holy site in Jerusalem. Clashes continued when hawkish Sharon was elected prime minister in February. So far over 700 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed.
In This Section
|