NEW YORK, March 28, 2007, (WAFA)-UN Secretary General's Envoy to the Middle East, Mr. Alvaro de Soto said that the positive current circumstances could hopefully push the peace process in the region.

In an interview with the UN radio overnight, Mr. Soto pointed out that the recent period has witnessed a positive development, including activating the role of the Quartet and the positive speech in Israel about the Arab peace initiative in 2002.

Mr. Soto considered that the formation of a Palestinian national unity government is an important righteous step forward.

He added that, what is clear for me, is that the political programme of the Palestinian government and its reiteration on the role of President Mahmoud Abbas as the President of the PLO, which Israel recognized as the sole and only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1993. Hence, President is totally empowered to run negotiations on behalf of the Palestinian people, adding that is compatible with the international demands.

M.H.(10:22 P)(08:22 GMT)