United Nations, May 28: United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan called Israel's acceptance of the ``road map'' to peace with the Palestinians ``a very encouraging development.'' Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ``has indicated he has some questions that he is going to pose later, but the act that he has accepted is a positive development,'' Annan told a news conference yesterday.
Israel's acceptance means the so-called quartet that developed the peace plan- the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia- has ``a basis for moving forward in assisting the two parties in resolving their conflict,'' Annan said. Israel raised 14 reservations about the peace plan, including a demand that only the United States should oversee implementation of the ``road map,'' not the other members of the quartet.
``It is something we will tackle as we move forward,'' Annan said when asked about that demand, which would exclude the United Nations. ``I think all the partners are concerned to see effective action. We want to see progress. We want to see an end to this painful conflict, and we will, I'm sure, accept any arrangement that will help us achieve that objective.'' A statement issued afterward by his spokesman said Annan ``expects the parties to embark swiftly on implementing the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in the security, humanitarian, economic and political fields.''
Only such steps, Annan said, ``can put an end to terror and violence, provide security and peace, and fulfill the vision of two states living side by side: a secure.. Israel and a viable, democratic and sovereign Palestine.'' Bureau Report