The Quartet meeting, involving the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, reaffirmed on Friday its support for the Middle East peace process and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The quartet of Middle East negotiators, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L), German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd L), U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (3rd L), US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (2nd R) and High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana (R) depart a news conference after meeting at the US Department of State in Washington Feb. 2, 2007. 

"The quartet welcomes the upcoming meeting between (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert, (Palestinian) President (Mahmoud) Abbas and (US) Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in a statement after the meeting held here.

"The quartet affirmed the primacy of the road map and welcomed US efforts to accelerate progress on the road map," Ban said, adding that the quartet noted the continuing importance of the Arab peace initiative, particularly its reflection of a shared commitment to a two-state solution.

Ban also said that the Quartet calls for end of violence and terror as well as Palestinian unity.

The Quartet held a meeting one year ago and issued a statement urging Hamas, who won the Palestinian legislative elections at that time, to renounce violence, recognize Israel as well as previous peace agreements between Palestine and Israel. However, Hamas has rejected the appeal.

The United States has suspended contacts and aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government and said Hamas will not be a peace partner unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2007)