STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IGOR IVANOV FOLLOWING THE MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE QUARTET OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS ON MIDDLE EAST SETTLEMENT

Unofficial translation from Russian

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IGOR IVANOV

Following the Ministerial Meeting of the Quartet of International Mediators on Middle East Settlement

We held a thorough exchange of views with the Quartet partners on the situation in Middle Eastern affairs, and substantively discussed further steps for implementing the Road Map, designed to end the protracted and bloody Palestinian-Israeli confrontation as soon as possible.

The bottom line as of now, I can state, is that thanks to the active work of the Quartet members, as well as thanks to the close personal involvement of US President George W. Bush, we have managed to keep the settlement platform afloat and get the consent of the conflicting parties in principle to its implementation. Under the circumstances and taking into account the acuteness of the standoff between the Israelis and Palestinians, this is no small achievement.

Of fundamental importance is likewise the fact that a favorable external environment has taken shape for a change for the better. In the international community, including practically the whole Arab world, a broad consensus has actually emerged in favor of immediately carrying out practical steps aimed at starting real advancement towards a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Unfortunately, the situation remains tense. The latest flare-up of violence is eloquent testimony to the fact that the forces opposing settlement are not abandoning their attempts to upset the implementation of the Road Map. It is therefore necessary to do everything possible to prevent a new spiral of confrontation and to preserve the now-existing chance of solving the crisis.

The Quartet members support the line of the Palestinian government led by Mahmoud Abbas, directed towards putting a stop to extremist attacks, and call upon him to continue his energetic efforts for stabilization. Simultaneously we call upon Israel not to take any steps capable of exacerbating the situation and to consistently act in favor of implementing the provisions of the Road Map. In this context we welcome the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian security contacts, as well as the work of the Arab Republic of Egypt on reaching an agreement on the cessation of violence.

We are convinced that for ongoing progress along the path outlined in the Road Map, a considerable role is to be played by the Quartet's monitoring of the implementation of its provisions. We support the efforts taken in this context by our US partners, and for our part are ready to join actively in that work.

It is abundantly clear that a truly lasting peace in the Middle East is impossible without a settlement of Israeli relations with Syria and Lebanon. We therefore believe that the time has come to consider and develop a program of steps for a resumption of the negotiating process on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. The realization of this program would also make for greater stability of the Road Map advancement in the Palestinian-Israeli sector.

Russia is ready to continue to exert vigorous efforts for achieving a comprehensive and just settlement in the Middle East, within the framework of which two independent states - Israel and Palestine - will live side by side in peace and security, and all countries and peoples of the region will acquire the possibility for development in the conditions of reliable stability and good neighborliness. To reach this goal, we intend to act in close coordination with the Quartet partners and other concerned parties.

June 22, 2003