19/02/2003
Press Release
SG/SM/8610

VIOLENCE WILL NOT PRODUCE SECURITY OR LASTING PEACE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL,

FOLLOWING LATEST ESCALATION IN MIDDLE EAST

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is concerned at the latest escalation of violence in the Middle East.� Since last Saturday, at least 27 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed, with many more injured.� This comes at a time when representatives of the international community are meeting in London to discuss ways to put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back on a track of peaceful negotiations.

The Secretary-General remains convinced that there is no military solution to this conflict.� Violence is not going to produce either security or lasting peace.� It only feeds the terrible cycle which began in September 2000.� The Secretary-General urges the parties immediately to cease all forms of violence, abide by international humanitarian law, and allow the international community to help them find a peaceful way out of this conflict.

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United Nations





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