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http://news.yahoo.com/mideast-quartet-calls-speedy-resumption-peace-talks-163257960.html
Munich (Germany) (AFP) - The
Middle East Quartet powers called Sunday for a speedy resumption of
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, urging both sides to avoid any action
that could undermine efforts to settle the conflict.
Talks
between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in April despite the
efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry to broker a deal, setting
the stage for a bloody war in Gaza just a few months later.
On
Sunday, Kerry met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, European Union
foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini and UN Deputy Secretary General
Jan Eliasson on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to
review the situation in the region.
"The
Quartet underlined the importance of the parties resuming negotiations
as soon as possible with a view to reaching a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace," a statement said.
The
Quartet also "recalled the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative --
with its vision for a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict -- and the vital role of Arab partners," it said.
"Pending
the resumption of negotiations, the Quartet called on both parties to
refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status
issues."
The Quartet was set
up in Madrid in 2002 as part of efforts to find a comprehensive
settlement to the conflict, with the Arab Peace Initiative approved by
the Arab League the same year.
The
four parties on Sunday also expressed deep concern "over the difficult
situation in Gaza" where reconstruction needed to be accelerated to
repair the massive destruction of last year's war.
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