UN hosts Middle East Peace Meeting

Pramod de SILVA in New York

US: The four main sponsors of the Middle East Peace Process met here yesterday to discuss preparations for an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference expected to be held in November.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon hosted the gathering with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

The UN meeting, being held two days before world leaders kick off summit talks during the General Assembly session, also provided an opportunity for the Middle East ‘Quartet’ to hear former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s first report since he was named the grouping’s special envoy in June.

Rice was also expected to brief them on her recent Middle East trip during which she engaged in shuttle diplomacy with Israelis and Palestinians.

This is seen a first step towards a Middle East peace conference due to be held later this year to jumpstart Israeli-Palestinian talks.