http://english.wafa.ps/?action=detail&id=14111
Ban Discusses Middle East Peace Process with Mitchell
Date : 27/4/2010 Time : 20:14
NEW YORK, April 27, 2010 (WAFA)- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United
States Special Envoy George Mitchell discussed continuing efforts to get the
Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, as well as the
situation in Gaza.
During their telephone conversation on Monday, the two men discussed the
proposal put forward several months ago by Mr. Mitchell, who was in the region
recently for meetings, for the Israelis and Palestinians to begin indirect
talks with US mediation.
The Secretary-General thanked Mr. Mitchell for his determined efforts and
reiterated the UN's support, according to information provided by Mr. Ban's
spokesperson.
At its meeting in Moscow in March, the diplomatic Quartet promoting Middle East
peace – comprising the UN, European Union, US and Russia – called on the
Israeli and Palestinian sides to resume negotiations as soon as possible with
the aim of reaching a settlement within two years.
On Gaza, Mr. Ban told Mr. Mitchell that there had been some progress since his
own visit in March, though much more needed to be done, and he sought the US
envoy's continued support to that end.
During his visit to Gaza earlier this year, the Secretary-General had noted
that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip – instituted for what it called
security reasons after Hamas took over power there in 2007 – 'causes
unacceptable suffering of human beings,' with half of the area's population,
which is under the age of 18, suffering the most.
'The policy is also counter-productive,' he emphasized. 'It prevents legitimate
commerce and encourages smuggling. It undercuts moderates and empowers
extremists.'
Last week, the top UN official in Gaza told reporters that the recent easing of
some Israeli restrictions on the entry of goods into the territory is welcome
but infinitesimal when compared to the needs of the 1.5 million Palestinians
living there.
'[It is] a drop in the bucket,' said John Ging, Director of Operations in Gaza
for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA). 'The context is so great; the scale of the need is so large.'
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