Meeting of "group of four" Middle East settlement mediators opens in New York

A meeting of the "four" (countries involved in Middle East peace talks) has taken place in New York. Taking part in the meeting were head of the Russian foreign ministry Igor Ivanov, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, foreign minister of Denmark (currently president-state of the EU) Per Stig Meller, EU High Representative for foreign policy and security Javier Solana, EU Commissioner for foreign policy Christopher Patten and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

This is already their fourth meeting at such a level. The first session took place in April in Madrid, and was followed by a second in May in Washington and a third in July in New York.

After their meeting the members of the "group of four" met with the foreign ministers of five Arab nations: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Libya.

The "four" then conducted a meeting with Israeli foreign minister Shimon Perez and leader of the Palestinian National Authorities' foreign department Farukh Khadumi. This was the first time that the group of four had met with representatives of Israel and Palestine simultaneously.

The four plan to make a joint declaration after their meeting