Kindgo
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Mideast quartet' OKs '99.5 percent' of U.S. proposal ![[Big Eyes]](graemlins/darthmavis.gif)
1Th 5:3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
CNN - Saturday, December 21, 2002
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/12/21/mideast.quartet/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A draft "road map" drawn up by the so-called
"Mideast quartet" says the ultimate goal for the troubled region is
a "final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-Palestinian
conflict by 2005" -- a process that must first begin with an
immediate cease-fire.
"A settlement, negotiated between the parties, will result in the
emergence of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state
living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel and its other
neighbors. The settlement will resolve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and end the occupation that began in 1967," the seven-page
draft says.
CNN late Friday obtained a copy of the draft, which has yet to be
fully approved. A senior diplomat said members of the "quartet" --
made up of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the
United Nations -- have "agreed to 99.5 percent of the road map."
Delegates from the quartet met Friday in Washington -- first at the
U.S. State Department and then at the White House with President
Bush -- to discuss the proposal.
In a written statement after the meetings, the participants said
that, "based upon a common understanding on the content and goals of
this process," the group had "made substantial progress toward
finalizing a road map for presentation to the parties in the near
future."
"The quartet calls for an immediate, comprehensive, cease-fire," the
statement said. "All Palestinian individuals and groups must end all
acts of terror against Israelis, in any location. ... Such a
cease-fire should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken
by the government of Israel."
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the implementation
of the road map "will require sacrifices by both sides and parallel
steps from both sides."
The United States was going to publicly release the plan at the
quartet meeting, but under pressure from Israel it decided not to
until Israeli parliamentary elections are over next month.
U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the decision
to delay "just a recognition of the reality of decision-making and
the state of play in the government of Israel."
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called the draft "a good
document."
"The most important thing is to implement it," he said. "That is our
main objective now."
Under the draft road map, the quartet lays out three phases for
Israel and Palestinians to follow.
Phase 1: Present to May 2003
At the outset, the Palestinian leadership must issue an "unequivocal
statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security,
and calling for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire to end
armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere."
At the same time, the Israeli leadership must issue an "unequivocal
statement affirming its commitment to the two-state vision of an
independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and
security alongside Israel." That statement also must call for an end
"to violence against Palestinians everywhere."
The draft also says Israel must withdraw from Palestinian areas from
September 28, 2000 -- when the current intifada began -- and that
both sides "restore the status quo that existed at that time."
Security measures must be undertaken by both sides. A new
Palestinian security apparatus must be established with its
operations "aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and
dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure."
Israel cannot take any actions "undermining trust, including
[proactive security measures], deportations, attacks on civilians;
confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as
a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; and
destruction of Palestinian institutions or infrastructure."
Quartet representatives will begin informal monitoring of the
situation on the ground during this phase. The draft also calls on
Arab states to "cut off public and private funding and all other
forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and
terror."
This phase also details measures for Palestinian institution
building, including a process to produce a draft constitution for
the eventual Palestinian state. It also calls on Israel to take
measures to improve the humanitarian situation in the territories,
including the lifting of curfews and easing of transportation of
goods.
Phase 2: June 2003-December 2003
Phase 2 is focused on the creation of an "independent Palestinian
state with provisional borders." It says such a provisional state
can only be achieved once the Palestinian people have chosen leaders
"uncompromised by terror" and "willing and able to build a
practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty."
"With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security
structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the
quartet and the broader international community in establishing an
independent, viable state," the draft says.
During this phase, an international conference will be held to
support Palestinian economic recovery and leading to the
establishment of the provisional state "with provisional borders."
At that time, Arab states are to "restore pre-intifada links to
Israel."
Phase 3: 2004-2005
At the start of 2004, another international conference will be held
to "formally launch a process with the active, sustained and
operational support of the quartet, leading to a final permanent
status resolution by 2005, including on borders, Jerusalem,
refugees, (and) settlements."
The quartet will then work with both sides to try to make sure the
deadline is met by the end of 2005 that will result in a Palestinian
state, ending the "occupation that began in 1967."
The final settlement will also result in an "agreed, just, fair and
realistic solution to the refugee issue, and a negotiated resolution
on the status of Jerusalem that takes into account the political and
religious concerns of both sides, and protects the religious
interests of Jews, Christians and Muslims worldwide."
The last line of the draft says Arab states must accept "full normal
relations with Israel and security for all the states of the region
in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace."
Israeli elections
The Bush administration said it will make the plan public after
Israeli general elections, which are set for January 28. Israeli
Prime Minister and Likud party leader Ariel Sharon will face off
with Labor Party candidate Amram Mitzna for the post of prime
minister.
Mitzna has promised to restart talks immediately with the
Palestinians and give the talks a chance for one year. He also said
he would order a total Israeli evacuation from Gaza.
Sharon takes a harder line on relations with the Palestinians, and
says substantive negotiations are dependent on the Palestinian
Authority reining in armed groups. He also rejects Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat as a negotiating partner and strongly backs
existing Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.
--
Koenig's International News - http://watch.org
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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