HIGHLIGHTS: Council Endorses 3-Track Plan to Establish Palestinian Statehood Within 3 Years||UN Security Council Statement Stresses Importance of Comprehensive, Just & Lasting Peace in the Middle East||Despite Differences Over Future of Arafat & Priorities Arab FMs Give Positive Assessment of Talks with Powell|| STORY: The U.N. Security Council urged Israel and the Palestinians on Thursday to support international efforts to achieve Middle East peace and establish a Palestinian state within three years. (Read photo caption)

The council endorsed a statement issued Tuesday by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia calling for an intensive effort to achieve reform, security and peace.

The so-called Quartet said efforts toward ensuring security, achieving a political settlement, and providing economic development and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians must proceed "hand in hand," though not necessarily at the same pace.

"The Security Council calls upon the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and all states in the region to cooperate with the efforts to achieve the goals set out in the joint statement," the council said in a statement.

The statement stressed "the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

The council said it appreciated the involvement of senior representatives from Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in discussions with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Secretary of State Colin Powell, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

At the Quartet meeting, the Bush administration, which is shunning Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, was at odds with the Arabs, the Europeans and the United Nations who all recognize him as the elected Palestinian leader. The United States also differs with the Arabs and the others on the priorities for achieving peace, with Powell stressing that ending violence must take precedence over other goals.

Nonetheless, Foreign ministers Ahmed Maher of Egypt and Marwan Muasher of Jordan gave strong backing to the Quartet's plan.

"Maybe we do not agree on all the details, but we are determined to work together for peace, and I think we will succeed to bring peace to this area under the banner of legitimacy, democracy and prosperity for all," Maher said.

PHOTO CAPTION

United Nations Security Council in session (AP Photo/David Karp)
- Jul 03 8:18 PM