Annan urges all parties to Middle East crisis to help end tragedy
Regional, Politics, 5/1/2001

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday in New York that the Middle East region was facing a "major crisis" and stressed that all the parties involved must work together to help "in ending the tragedy and getting back to the table."

In remarks made to reporters prior to a private meeting with Israel's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shimon Peres, Annan said he was actively engaged with the parties to the current conflict and with other leaders who were trying to make a difference on the ground.

The objective was to get the parties to settle, he noted, stressing that Israel and the Palestinians would have to take reciprocal steps to end the violence.

"I think that the discussions that appear to be taking place between the Israelis and the Egyptians and the Jordanians seem to show some flexibility in how they are approaching the crisis, so I am encouraged," Annan added.

Earlier, on Saturday, the Secretary-General pledged to keep UN blue helmets on the ground in Lebanon, where the world body has deployed peacekeepers for over two decades.

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