Mideast quartet expresses concern over Gaza situation

The Middle East quartet was deeply concerned by the deterioration in Gaza and urged Israel to freeze all settlement activities.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C) attends the Ministerial Quartet Meeting on Mid-east Issues at foreign ministry mansion in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 19, 2010. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Union chief diplomat Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as representatives of the four parties attended the meeting here on Friday

The one-day quartet meeting brought together UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Quartet Representative Tony Blair.

“The Quartet is deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration in Gaza, including the humanitarian and human rights situation of the civilian population and stresses the urgency of a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis,” Ban told a press conference after the quartet gathering.

“The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activities, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in east Jerusalem,” said the joint statement read by Ban.

“Unilateral actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community,” he added.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

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