UN chief hails deal to resume Mideast peace talks

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the progress made in the Middle East peace process following the announcement of the possible resumption of long-stalled direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians. "The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Kerry today in Amman, Jordan, that the basis has been established to resume talks between Israelis and Palestinians," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson. Ban is encouraged by this "positive development" and called on both sides to "show leadership, courage, and responsibility to sustain this effort towards achieving the two-state vision," the statement said. In addition, the UN chief highlighted UN's commitment to support any endeavor towards meaningful negotiations and to the achievement of comprehensive peace in the region, said the statement. After a series of meetings over the past few days with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian officials, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday that an agreement has been reached to lay the foundation for resuming peace talks between Palestinians and the Israelis. Israeli-Palestinian direct peace talks stopped in October 2010 after Israel insisted on continuing settlements-building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.