[11/March/2010]
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Saba) -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday shared the "deep frustration" of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Israeli plan announced earlier this week to build 1,600 more settlements in East Jerusalem, and urged him to, nevertheless, engage in the US-proposed proximity talks, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) has reported.

"The Secretary General shares the deep frustration of the Palestinian leadership and of Arab League members at the Israeli announcement of new settlement units in East Jerusalem," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky told the daily press briefing in answer to a question, adding that the UN has "registered its protest with the Israeli Government." "We are also in contact with the Palestinian leadership and are counseling them to continue to engage in efforts to convene indirect negotiations," he noted.

He indicated that the UN is active on the ground and is coordinating with international partners in the lead-up to the Quartet meeting in Moscow scheduled for March 19th.

He recalled that Ban and members of the international community, including the United States, have condemned this announcement.
"Settlements are illegal, and their expansion violates the Roadmap," he said.

Saba