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Quartet Envoys and Tony Blair to meet negotiators on October 26th in Jerusalem

Quartet Envoys and Representative Tony Blair will meet separately with Israeli and Palestinian officials on October 26^th in Jerusalem as part of the international community's bid to see a resumption of negotiations between the parties.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner announced Monday that the Quartet will be meeting with the parties next week "with the aim to begin preparations and develop an agenda for proceeding in the negotiations."

"I think that we’re making progress. This is an important step... we believe it’s going to be productive and that – again, it’s a stepping stone along that timetable that was laid out by the Quartet that will hopefully lead back to direct negotiations,” the spokesman added, confirming that the Quartet was still working to the timetable set out in the statement agreed in New York on 23^rd September.

"We’re going to continue working along that framework. We believe that the quickest way to resolve all of these outstanding issues is for both parties to get back to the negotiating tables. That’s our goal. That’s where our focus remains."

September's Quartet statement reiterated its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli -Palestinian negotiations without delay or preconditions. But it accepts that meeting, in itself, will not re-establish the trust necessary for such a negotiation to succeed. It therefore proposes the following
steps:

1. Within a month there will be a preparatory meeting between the parties to agree an agenda and method of proceeding in the negotiation.

2. At that meeting there will be a commitment by both sides that the objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012.
The Quartet expects the parties to come forward with comprehensive proposals within three months on territory and security, and to have made substantial progress within six months. To that end, the
Quartet will convene an international conference in Moscow, in consultation with the parties, at the appropriate time.

3. There will be a Donors Conference at which the international community will give full and sustained support to the Palestinian Authority state-building actions developed by Prime Minister Fayyad
under the leadership of President Abbas.

4. The Quartet recognizes the achievements of the Palestinian Authority in preparing institutions for statehood as evidenced in reports to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, and stresses the need to
preserve and build on them. In this regard, the members of the Quartet will consult to identify additional steps they can actively support towards Palestinian statehood individually and together, to
secure in accordance with existing procedures significantly greater independence and sovereignty for the Palestinian Authority over its affairs.

5. The Quartet calls upon the parties to refrain from provocative actions if negotiations are to be effective. The Quartet reiterated the obligations of both parties under the Roadmap.

6. The Quartet committed to remain actively involved and to encourage and review progress. The Quartet agreed to meet regularly and to task the envoys and the Quartet Representative to intensify
their cooperation, including by meeting prior to the parties’ preparatory meeting, and to formulate recommendations for Quartet action.