United Nations

 NEW YORK, 7 November (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the appointment by United States President William Clinton of a committee of fact-finding, established in accordance with the understandings reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.  As agreed at Sharm el-Sheikh, the Secretary-General was closely involved in the consultations on the composition of the committee.  

The Secretary-General has full confidence in the members of the committee, who are individuals of the highest integrity.  He is convinced that the committee will carry out its duties with impartiality and thoroughness, and that it will thereby make an important contribution towards the search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

The Secretary-General hopes that the committee will begin its work in the very near future, and that it will pursue its efforts in a sustained manner.  Meanwhile, he reiterates his call to the parties to implement in good faith all the understandings reached at Sharm el-Sheikh, with the aim of bringing violence to an end and restoring an atmosphere of calm in which the search for a peace settlement can be resumed.