The Middle East diplomatic quartet called on Israel Tuesday to stop expansion of settlements in the West Bank and urged the Palestinian Authority to intensify its fight against terrorism.

The quartet, comprising the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union, issued the calls after a meeting at the UN's New York headquarters.

"The quartet believes that settlement expansion else where must stop, and Israel must remove unauthorized outposts," said a statement read to the press by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"The quartet reaffirms that any agreement on final status issues must be reached through negotiations and that a new Palestinian state must be truly viable, with contiguity in the West Bank and connectivity to Gaza," it noted.

While noting the Palestinian Authority has condemned violence, the statement said, "the quartet further urges it to maintain law and order and dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure."
 
The quartet also urged Palestinian militant groups to abandon violence and engage in the democratic political process.

"Ultimately, those who want to be part of the political process should not engage in armed group or militia activities, for there is a fundamental contradiction between such activities and the building of a democratic state," the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2005)