UN envoy welcomes Netanyahu’s statements on Arab Peace Initiative

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov welcomes statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and newly appointed Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman in support of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

“This can help advance negotiations on achieving a two-state solution. It follows the call by the president of Egypt to Israelis and Palestinians to continue their historic step toward peace taken by Israel and Egypt 37 years ago,” Mladenov says in a statement.

“This opportunity should not be missed and must be followed up with concrete and timely action,” he adds.

Speaking yesterday after Liberman was sworn in as defense minister, Netanyahu said, “The Arab Peace Initiative contains positive elements that could help revive constructive negotiations with the Palestinians. We are willing to negotiate with the Arab states revisions to that initiative so that it reflects the dramatic changes in our region since 2002.″