SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES MEETING BETWEEN ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS;
HOPES RESULT IS SUSTAINABLE DIALOGUE, END TO VIOLENCE
The following was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the meeting today between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and President Yasser Arafat.� He is extremely pleased that the parties have agreed to resume full security cooperation and to exert maximum efforts to sustain the ceasefire.� He is also encouraged by the reiteration of their full commitment to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Report and the Tenet understandings.� He is heartened by the prospect of the concrete steps to be taken by the parties, as set forth in the joint communiqué issued after the meeting.� He hopes that this meeting will result in a sustainable dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians and that the current cycle of violence can be brought to an end and the peace process resumed.
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