A shift in strategy in the negotiations to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become necessary as the United States has taken on pro-active role in the talks, dpa cited the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process as saying Tuesday. "We believe it is clear that a substantial third-party role in mediation is now required," Robert Serry told the UN Security Council in New York during a debate. "We understand that the US will now engage both sides in direct talks on all final status issues and the UN secretary general expects the parties to engage seriously," he said. Serry said the demand for a third-party mediation had become evident before the US envoy to the Middle East, former US senator George Mitchell, was to visit the region. He said the mediation's goal is to work out a two-state solution - a Palestinian state living in peace next to Israel. Mitchell met with Israeli government officials on Monday and with Palestinian leaders Tuesday. Serry said the diplomatic quartet - the UN, the European Union, the US and Russia - planned to meet early next year to resume discussion in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Serry noted that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on governments to recognize the "independent state of Palestine," and Brazil and Argentina obliged in early December. The European Union Council of Ministers has also indicated its readiness to recognize the Palestinian state "when appropriate," Serry said.
