WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. and European Union officials Monday said they remain committed to the Middle East peace process and urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations.
"We ... remain committed to the Quartet's work with the parties to achieve progress on President Bush's two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told a news conference, flanked by EU officials.
The Quartet refers to the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations -- the authors of the "road map" to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
"The stalled Middle East peace process remains of deep concern to all of us. We had a very frank exchange of views," Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said. "We need to make early progress on the implementation of the quartet 'road map.'"
He said the two sides agreed an early meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia, "would be very helpful in that process."
The stalled "road map" calls for mutual confidence-building measures between the two sides, culminating in an independent Palestinian state by 2005 and peace and security for Israel.
