The diplomatic group on the Middle East peace process, or the quartet, will meet in New York later this month to assess the first round of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday, dpa reported.
Ban met at UN headquarters with US Middle East mediator, former senator George Mitchell, who briefed him on the direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held last week in Washington.
Ban said he will meet with Netanyahu and Abbas, who will be attending the annual UN General Assembly opening on September 20. He said the quartet, which includes the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States, will also meet to review the peace process.
"I underline the need for a broad, international support for this process, including the role of the UN and the quartet," Ban told reporters. He said the violence should end and Israel should show restraint in the construction of Jewish settlements.