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M2 PRESSWIRE-September 19, 2008-United Nations: Nearly One Year After Annapolis, Middle East Peace Process Still At Crossroads With No Agreement On Core Issues, Security Council Hears In Monthly Briefing (C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Security Council
5974^th Meeting (AM)
Ten months after negotiations were relaunched at Annapolis, the Middle East peace process was still at a crossroads, Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, said during this month's regular briefing to the Security Council on the Middle East.
"The important period ahead must see decisive advances toward peace", Mr. Serry said, noting that just over three months remained until the end of the year, the deadline set by Israeli and Palestinian leaders to end the enduring conflict.
However, no agreement had been reached on core issues, although there had been substantive discussions between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, he said. With yesterday's election of Tzipi Livni as the new leader of Israel's Kadima party, he looked forward to an urgent continuation of the talks and for all parties to honour their Annapolis and Road Map commitments.
A largely unsung success story concerned the gradual but systematic process of Palestinian self-empowerment, which had taken place in the West Bank under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, he said. In addition, the Palestinian Authority continued to make real strides in the implementation of its security plan, including action against militants and smugglers. That had greatly restored stability and law in Nablus and elsewhere. Donors were supporting the efforts; a joint agreement with Germany would establish 55 new police stations in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority had also made notable gains in economic areas, he said, which would be highlighted when the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met on 22 September. Significant hurdles remained, however, with a stagnant economic climate and a looming liquidity crisis, and he urged donors to fulfil their pledges.
He noted that the casualty rate from violent clashes was one of the...