RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 28 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday addressed the opening session of the two-day Arab summit in the Saudi capital by supporting an Arab peace plan.
Ban said the 2002 Saudi-sponsored Arab initiative for peace in the Middle East was "valid" to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This year's summit in Riyadh is reviving the peace plan after Israeli indications it might deal with the initiative, which offered Israel peace and normal relations with the Arab countries in return for an Israeli pullout from the territories it captured in the 1967 war where a Palestinian state would be established.
The U.N. chief told the leaders of the 22 members of the Arab League he encourages the new Palestinian national unity government to commit to peace and urged Israel to refrain from building Jewish settlements.
Ban said peace between the Palestinians and Israelis will not be achieved with a "magic wand" and that there are already "dynamic initiatives" to strengthen the peace efforts.
"I'm committed to work with you for progress and achieving the aspirations of the people of the region," he said, stressing the U.N. supports Arab efforts for peace, development and resolving its problems.
