United Nations

 NEW YORK, 2 November (UN Headquarters) --  The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

 The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister of Israel, Shlomo Ben-Ami, met this morning and reviewed the Middle East peace process.  They agreed on the need to secure the full implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings.  They also emphasized the need to restore calm and create the right atmosphere for the resumption of peace negotiations.  In this regard, they were encouraged by the recent agreement between former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Chairman Yasser Arafat.

 In view of the bomb attack earlier today in Jerusalem, the Secretary-General reiterates in the strongest possible terms his condemnation of terrorism from whatever quarter and other violence affecting civilians.  He strongly believes that those who oppose peace by using such means should not deter the parties from making every effort to return to the negotiating table.