Statement Reaffirming Committment to Institution-Building
in Palestinian Society
(April 11, 2012)
The Quartet — United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and European Union High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton — met
in Washington, DC on 11 April 2012. They were joined by Quartet Representative
Tony Blair and by Foreign Minister of Jordan Nasser Judeh, who briefed
the Quartet on Jordan’s engagement. The Quartet underscored its
support for the positive efforts by King Abdullah of Jordan and Foreign
Minister Judeh.
Following its consultation in New York on 12 March
2012, the Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to all elements of its statement
of 23 September 2011 and renewed its call on the parties to meet those
objectives. The Quartet welcomed plans for dialogue between the parties,
and discussed ways to support these efforts.
The Quartet took particular note of the 21 March 2012
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in Brussels, and underscored
the need for continued international support for the Palestinian Authority’s
important institution-building efforts. The Quartet encouraged the Palestinian
Authority to continue working toward this end. In this regard, the Quartet
called on the international community to ensure the contribution of
$1.1 billion in assistance to meet the Palestinian Authority’s
2012 recurrent financing requirements. The Quartet welcomed the efforts
by the parties to resolve outstanding issues related to tax and customs
revenue collection and urged their conclusion as soon as possible.
The Quartet noted with concern the increasing fragility
of developments on the ground and called on the parties to work constructively
together to take concrete steps to address the Palestinian Authority’s
fiscal challenges, preserve and build on the Palestinian Authority’s
institutional gains, and expand economic opportunities for the Palestinian
people.
In this respect, the Quartet reaffirmed its commitment,
as expressed in its 23 September 2011 statement, to examine possible
mechanisms it can actively support going forward, individually and together,
to advance peace efforts and strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s
ability to meet the full range of civil and security needs of the Palestinian
people both now and in a future state. The Quartet encouraged the parties,
in this context, to cooperate to facilitate the social and economic
development of Area C, which is of critical importance for the viability
of a future Palestinian state as well as for its Palestinian inhabitants
to be enabled to lead a normal life. The Quartet asked Quartet Representative
Blair to continue his intensive work with the parties toward this end.
Noting the significant progress on security achieved
by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, the Quartet calls on
the Palestinian Authority to continue to make every effort to improve
law and order, to fight violent extremism, and to end incitement. The
Quartet emphasized the need to continue assisting the Palestinian Authority
in building its law enforcement capacity. The Quartet also expressed
its concern over ongoing settler violence and incitement in the West
Bank and calls on Israel to take effective measures, including bringing
the perpetrators of such acts to justice.
The Quartet condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and
stressed the need for calm and security for both peoples. The Quartet
underscored the importance of continued steps to address the needs of
Gaza’s residents, and welcomed the Israeli Government’s
approval at the AHLC meeting of UN priority infrastructure projects
in Gaza. Reaffirming its previous positions, the Quartet considers that
the situation in and around Gaza remains fragile and unsustainable as
long as the West Bank and Gaza are not reunited under the legitimate
Palestinian Authority adhering to the PLO commitments.
Reminding both parties of their obligations under the
roadmap, the Quartet reiterated its call for them to avoid actions that
undermine trust and to focus on positive efforts that can strengthen
and improve the climate for a resumption of direct negotiations on the
basis of the Quartet’s September 23 statement.
The Quartet expressed concern about unilateral and
provocative actions by either party, including continued settlement
activity, which cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations, the only
way to a just and durable solution to the conflict.
The Quartet underscored its commitment to remain actively
engaged in the coming period.
Sources: United Nations Secretary General |