Statement of the Quartet (Text)
New York, 17 September 2002

[18 September 2002 - Palestine Media Center - PMC]

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Danish Foreign Minister Per
Stig Moeller, High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Affairs Chris
Patten met today in New York.

Reaffirming their previous statements, the Quartet members reviewed
developments since their last meeting, on July 16, 2002. They deplored and
condemned the morally repugnant violence and terror, which must end. They
agreed to intensify their efforts in support of their shared goal of
achieving a final Israeli-Palestinian settlement based on their common
vision, as inter alia expressed by President Bush, of two states, Israel and
an independent, viable and democratic Palestine, living side by side in
peace and security.

The Quartet will continue to encourage all parties to step up to their
responsibilities to seek a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict
based on UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338, and 1397, the Madrid
terms of reference, the principle of land for peace, and implementation of
all existing agreements between the parties. The Quartet reaffirms the
continuing importance of the initiative of Saudi Arabia, endorsed at the
Arab League Beirut Summit, which is a vital plan of the foundation of
international efforts to promote a comprehensive peace on all tracks,
including the Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks.

The Quartet is working closely with the parties and consulting key regional
actors on a concrete, three-phase implementation roadmap that could achieve
a final settlement within three years. Comprehensive security performance is
essential. The plan will not succeed unless it addresses political,
economic, humanitarian, and institutional dimensions and should spell out
reciprocal steps to be taken by the parties in each of its phases. In this
approach, progress between the three phases would be strictly based on the
parties' compliance with specific performance benchmarks to be monitored and
assessed by the Quartet.

The Quartet also supports, in preparation for establishment of a Palestinian
state, efforts by the Palestinians to develop a constitution, which ensures
separation of power, transparency, accountability, and the vibrant political
system which Palestinians deserve.

The plan will contain in its initial phase (2002-first half of 2003)
performance-based criteria for comprehensive security reform, Israeli
withdrawals to their positions of September 28, 2000 as the security
situation improves, and support for the Palestinians' holding of free, fair,
and credible elections early in 2003, based on recommendations established
by the Quartet's International Task Force on Palestinian

Reform. The first phase should include a ministerial-level meeting of the Ad
Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) to review the humanitarian situation and
prospects for economic development in the West Bank and Gaza and identify
priority areas for donor assistance, including to the reform process, before
the end of the year. The Quartet Principals will meet alongside the AHLC
ministerial.

In the plan's second phase (2003), our efforts should focus on the option of
creating a Palestinian state with provisional borders based upon a new
constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement.

In its final phase (2004-5), the plan envisages Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations aimed at a permanent status solution in 2005. Consistent with
the vision expressed by President Bush, this means that the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated
between the parties and based on U.N. resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli
withdrawal to secure and recognized borders.

The Quartet welcomes the Task Force's report on the progress of the seven
Reform Support Groups, and notes that a number of significant achievements,
especially in the area of financial reform, have been realized in a short
period of time under very difficult circumstances.

Under the aegis of the Quartet, the Task Force will continue its work of
supporting the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority as they establish
and prioritize reform benchmarks, particularly on the issues of elections,
judicial reform, and the role of civil society.

Both the reform effort and the political process must include Israeli
measures, consistent with Israel's legitimate security concerns, to improve
the lives of Palestinians, including allowing the resumption of normal
economic activity, facilitating the movement of goods, people, and essential
services and to lift curfew and closures.

Consistent with transparent and accountable Palestinian budget arrangements,
the Quartet welcomes Israel's decision to transfer part of the Palestinian
VAT and customs revenue that has been withheld since September 2000, and
calls on Israel to continue this process and reestablish regular monthly
revenue transfers to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance. And consistent
with the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission, Israeli settlement
activity in the occupied territories must stop.

The Quartet welcomes the report of UN Secretary-General's Personal
Humanitarian Envoy Catherine Bertini as well as the latest UNSCO report on
the impact of closures. It calls on Israel and the Palestinians to recognize
and act upon their respective responsibilities and to move quickly to
ameliorate the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank
and Gaza. In particular, Israel must ensure full, safe and unfettered access
for international and humanitarian personnel.

Reiterating the critical importance of restoring lasting calm through
comprehensive performance on security, the Quartet calls on the Palestinians
to work with the U.S. and regional partners to reform the Palestinian
security services, strengthen policing and law and order for the civilian
population, and tight the terror that has severely undermined the legitimate
aspirations of the Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians should
reestablish security cooperation and reciprocal steps should be taken by
Israel as the Palestinians work to combat terrorism in all its forms.

The Quartet will continue to discuss the timing and modalities of an
international conference.

The Quartet also met and discussed these issues with the Foreign Ministers
of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, as representatives of
the Arab League Follow-up Committee, and with representatives of Israel anti
the Palestinian Authority. The Quartet looks forward to continuing
consultations.

(end text)

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