"Quartet" extends aid to Palestine for three months : Russia

Moscow, Mar 22 (UNI) The international "Quartet" on Palestinian-Israeli settlement, has approved an initiative to extend aid to the Palestine for another three months, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement today said.

''The 'Quartet' has confirmed the need to coordinate and mobilise international assistance to the Palestinian people and approved further international aid to the Palestinians for another three months,'' the statement said.

''During this period, the 'Quartet' will analyse the situation and the international community will work to develop a mechanism for longer-term aid to the Palestinians,'' it said.

The 'Quartet' (Russia, EU, US and UN), said it respected Palestinian democracy and the agreement reached by the two basic political forces in Palestine, Fatah and Hamas, in Mecca on February 8, which laid the foundation for reconciliation in Palestine.

It also expressed the hope that the new coalition government formed on March 17 will help cease violence in Palestine and support President Mahmoud Abbas's efforts aimed to achieve resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The 'Quartet' urged the new government of the Palestinian Authority to adhere to the principles of non-violence and recognise Israel, adding that it would assess the new government by its moves.

''The Quartet has reaffirmed its previous statement to the effect that the Palestinian government must remain adherent to the principles of non-violence and recognition of Israel, and to the previous agreements and commitments, including the Roadmap, and advocates further advancement in this direction,'' it said.

The Quartet also agreed to meet in the near future to discuss developments in the region.

''It will assess the government's adherence to these principles not only by its composition and platform, but also by its moves,'' it said.

UNI