High Representative Mogherini takes part in Quartet meeting on Middle East Peace Process

The Quartet, High Representative Mogherini, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State John Kerry, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, represented by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov, expressed grave concern over the continuing escalation of tensions in the region and reiterated their condemnation of all acts of terror and violence against civilians.

"The EU is very much insisting on revitalizing this format," said Mogherini talking to the press. "We pass the message to our Palestinian and Israeli friends to calm down the situation on the ground and show restraint".

The Quartet called on Israel to work together with Jordan to uphold the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, recognizing the special role of Jordan as per its peace treaty with Israel. 

Recalling its previous statements and UN Security Council resolutions, the Quartet called for significant steps to be taken to restore confidence and hope in the viability of a negotiated two-state solution that resolves the final status issues, including that of Jerusalem, and ends the occupation that began in 1967.

The Quartet will continue to work closely with regional and international stakeholders to stabilize the situation and to actively support a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"The fact that the international community is united and coordinated on the same message gives us hope that the parties will listen and engage consistently and concretely", underlined Mogherini.

On the sidelines of the meeting of the Quartet, the HRVP was received by the Austrian Chancellor, Werner Faymann, with whom she discussed the refugee crisis in view of the EU meeting on Sunday. 

Mogherini had a bilateral meeting also with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, on the crisis in Syria. "All relevant actors, regional and international, should be involved", said Mogherini answering to the press on the possible involvement of Iran in the diplomatic track to try to find a political solution, "I hope the Iranians will be part of this effort".

• Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini following the Quartet Principals' meeting in Vienna
• Quartet Principals' Statement, Vienna, October 23, 2015