UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: Russia on Tuesday called for declaring “Middle East a Nuclear-free zone or free of weapons of mass destruction”, In a statement following a meeting of the Middle East Quartet at the United Nations, Russia’s foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored “…that, in fact, is the position of the Security Council of the United Nations, because that support, was to be found in a resolution that took stock of the war in Iraq in 1991, namely, resolution 667 (1991), which clearly states that it supports the idea of proclaiming the Middle East a zone that is free of nuclear weapons.”

The quartet -– represented by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, European Union Representative Javier Solana and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner — issued a statement saying that “the brave and historic decision” of Israel to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank “should open a new chapter on the path to peace in the region.”

The quartet representatives said they hope that the Israeli withdrawal will open new opportunities to proceed toward peace according to a plan, known as the roadmap, that Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the quartet have endorsed.

The quartet discussed security reform; the mission of US Security Coordinator General William Ward to improve the capability of the Palestinian security forces; the $750 million package of international aid, especially the so-called “quick action” economic development projects to create jobs; freedom of movement for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank; controlling armed groups and supporting the political process.

The quartet will continue to lead international efforts to support the sustainable growth of the Palestinian economy.