Middle East peace process needs action, UN's envoy says

United Nations: Ten months after Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to try to reach a peace settlement this year, the UN's Mideast envoy said on Thursday that the peace process requires stepped-up action to reach an agreement in 2008.

"While there are some positive developments, there are also several factors that cause concern," Robert Serry told the UN Security Council. "The important period ahead must see decisive advances towards peace."

Despite continuing negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, he said, "it appears so far that no agreement has been reached on the core issues."

"However, it also appears that there have been substantive discussions, the potential of which must be built on with a continuation of intensive negotiations," Serry said.

He addressed the council a day after Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was elected as the new leader of the Kadima Party, replacing corruption-tainted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Livni, a soft-spoken diplomat who has played a central role in peace talks with the Palestinians and prefers negotiation to confrontation, said she intends to form a new government.

"We look to an urgent continuation of the negotiations, and for all parties to honour their Annapolis and road map commitments," Serry said.

A US-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last November drew 44 nations, including Israel's neighboring Arab states, whose support is considered vital to any peace agreement. A joint understanding between the Israelis and Palestinians, in doubt until the last minute, was salvaged and Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated their desire to reach a peace settlement by the end of this year.