ROME, MARCH 23, 2007 (WAFA) - The United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace was held at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome finished its works Friday.

The meeting was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people. Participants in the Meeting included international experts, representatives of Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations system entities, parliaments, civil society and the media.

The participants, in the final statement, welcomed the formation of a Palestinian government of national unity, and expressed the hope that this development would allocate the international community to restore the much-needed economic and humanitarian assistance and help move the political process forward.

They also expressed a view that the international community had an obligation to support the new Government without preconditions and lift the aid restrictions imposed on it.

They called on the parties, regional actors and the Quartet to intensify efforts that would result in an appreciable progress in the Middle East peace process.

In that regard, the participants noted the emerging international consensus in favour of the political process addressing, without further delay, the permanent status issues, rather than provisional or interim arrangements.

A.D (22:30P) (20:30GMT)