UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged all parties involved in the Middle East peace process to refrain from any actions that would be "detrimental" to the resumption of negotiations and vowed to work with them for finding a solution to the conflict.
"The long cherished dream of a vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians has been to live a normal life in peace and security," he said in a message to an International Meeting on the question of Palestine in Geneva.
"At long last, all of us can sense a new-found movement towards that dream. I urge everyone -- the parties and the international community -- to refrain from any actions that would be detrimental to the resumption of negotiations and implementation of the roadmap, or that could pre-judge the resolution of final status issues," he added.
The roadmap is a peace plan devised by the Middle East diplomatic Quartet -- UN, European Union, Russia and United States -- urging both Israel and the Palestinians to take parallel and reciprocal steps, leading to two states living side by side in peace.
"There is once again a real sense that after long years of suffering, bitterness and despair, better days may at last lie ahead," Annan said, citing a recent agreement by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end violence.
{{/usCountry}}"There is once again a real sense that after long years of suffering, bitterness and despair, better days may at last lie ahead," Annan said, citing a recent agreement by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end violence.
{{/usCountry}}"Let us all remain focused on our long-standing objective of two states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders," he added.