12 Mar 2012

UN / CLINTON QUARTET

The Middle East Quartet today called on Israeli and Palestinian authorities to remain engaged in negotiations and refrain from provocative actions. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said “the Palestinian people just like their Arab neighbours, Israelis and all people deserve dignity, liberty and the right to decide their own future.” UNTV

Posted at: March 12, 2012 5:37 pm

Duration: 02:19

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / CLINTON QUARTET
TRT: 2.19
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 12 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations headquarters

12 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Various shots, US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
3. Med shot, Clinton approaches microphone
4. Cutaway, journalist typing 
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, United States:
"Today we held an informal consultation of the Quartet. We remain committed to the overall objectives the Quartet outlined last September and we agreed to meet in April. We reiterated our support for Jordanian peacemaking efforts and our call to both parties to remain engaged and to refrain from provocative actions. I also, on behalf of the United States condemned in the strongest terms the rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, which continued over the weekend. We call on those responsible to take immediate action to end these attacks and we call on both sides to make very every effort to restore calm."
6. Various shots, US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, United States:
"The Palestinian people just like their Arab neighbours, Israelis and all people deserve dignity, liberty and the right to decide their own future. They deserve a viable, independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. But we know from decades in the diplomatic trenches that the only way to get there is through a negotiated peace. A peace that cannot be dictated from outside by the United States, by the United Nations or anyone else and one we will continue to pursue through every productive avenue."
8. Cutaway, journalist taking notes 
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, United States:
"Like many Americans, I was shocked and saddened by the killings of innocent Afghans villages this weekend. We send our condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and to the people of Afghanistan. This is not who we are and the United States is committed to seeing that those responsible are held accountable."
10. Cutaway, journalist taking notes
11. Med shot, Clinton leaving microphone

STORYLINE:

In its first high-level meeting in six months, the Quartet today called on Israeli and Palestinian authorities to remain engaged in negotiations and refrain from provocative actions.

Speaking to reporters outside the Security Council following a meeting on the Middle East, United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Quartet remained committed to the overall objectives it outlined last September and agreed to meet in April.

She said it also reiterated support for Jordanian peacemaking efforts, as well as its call to both parties to "remain engaged and to refrain from provocative actions."

Clinton, on behalf of the United States, condemned in the strongest terms the rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, which continued over the weekend.

"We call on those responsible to take immediate action to end these attacks and we call on both sides to make very every effort to restore calm," she said.

On a separate note, Clinton said that she was "shocked and saddened" by the killing of innocent Afghans adding "this is not who we are" those responsible will be held accountable."
 
During informal consultations in New York, the so-called Quartet – the diplomatic grouping bringing together the UN with the European Union, Russia and the United States – along with Quartet Representative Tony Blair, discussed the grave situation in Gaza and southern Israel, expressed its serious concern for the recent escalation and called for calm.

The Quartet made a statement on 23 September appealing to the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct bilateral negotiations without delays or preconditions. The Quartet also proposed a series of steps and a timetable with the aim of reaching a lasting Middle East peace agreement by the end of 2012. At today's meeting, the group reiterated its support for the statement and welcomed efforts in the past two months led by Jordan to this end.

The Quartet will meet again next month in Washington D.C.