STATEMENT OF THE QUARTET
20 September 2006
[Provided to IMRA by the UN Press Office]

Quartet principals - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja,
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for European
Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for
External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner - met today in New York to discuss
developments in the Middle East since their last meeting May 9.

Taking stock of recent developments in the region, the Quartet stressed the
urgent need to make progress towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
in the Middle East. The Quartet expressed its concern at the grave crisis in
Gaza and the continued stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Quartet welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to
form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a
government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement.

The Quartet underlined the urgent need for the parties to implement fully
all aspects of the Agreement on Movement and Access. Accordingly, Rafah and
all other passages should remain open consistent with relevant agreements.

The Quartet encouraged greater donor support to meet the needs of the
Palestinian people, with a particular emphasis on security sector reform,
reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and economic development. The
Quartet commended the efforts of the World Bank and the European Union to
facilitate needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people via the
Temporary International Mechanism endorsed by the Quartet on June 17.
Mindful of the continuing needs of the Palestinian people, the Quartet
endorsed the continuation and expansion of the Temporary International
Mechanism for a three month period, and agreed to again review the need for
such a mechanism at the end of that period.

The Quartet noted that the resumption of transfers of tax and customs
revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority would
have a significant impact on the Palestinian economy. The Quartet encouraged
Israel and the Palestinian Authority to consider resumption of such
transfers via the Temporary International Mechanism to improve the economic
and humanitarian conditions in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Quartet welcomed the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations to request Mr. James D. Wolfensohn to report on the situation on the
ground.

The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to the roadmap as the means to realize
the goal of two democratic states - Israel and Palestine - living side by
side in peace and security. The Quartet stressed the need for a credible
political process in order to make progress towards a two-state solution
through dialogue and parallel implementation of obligations. In this
context, the Quartet welcomed the prospect of a meeting between Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert and President Mahmoud Abbas in the near future. The
Quartet agreed to meet on a regular basis in the coming period at both the
Principals and Envoys level, including with the parties and other regional
partners to monitor developments and actions taken by the parties and to
discuss the way ahead.