NEW YORK, February 13, 2007, (WAFA) - Italy Ambassador to the United Nations, Marcello Spatafora, welcomed Tuesday the agreement reached in Makka.

Speaking before the United Nations on the Situation in the Middle East, Spatafora described the agreement as an important step towards the start of reconciliation between the various Palestinian political forces.

He particularly appreciated the role played by the Saudi King, who, with patience and cleverness, created the necessary conditions.

While keeping to the results-based sequential approach of the Road Map, he underlined the urgent need to elaborate new strategies, which offered the parties a clear negotiating prospect.

"It was time for negotiations to start on the basis of effective mutual confidence-building measures, including full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access, particularly in Rafah, whose opening should be routine rather than exception, as well as the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreements, the release of prisoners and the complete transfer of customs revenues." he added.

H.M (22:28 P)-(20:28 GMT)