(Communicated by the President’s Office)

President Shimon Peres, this morning (Friday, 16 August 2013), at his Jerusalem Residence, met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is visiting the region in light of the resumption of peace talks in order to express his support. At the beginning of the meeting the two delivered joint statements to the press.

President Peres thanked the Secretary General for coming and said, "Mr. Secretary General, you came at the right time with the right purpose. You announced before coming that you want to show your support for the beginning of the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and ourselves and I think your presence here is important, you have a good opportunity to speak to the leaders of the two parties."

President Peres addressed the peace talks and said, "The birth of the negotiations wasn't simple but the fact is that they started and are being continued, not without difficulties but clearly with hope. I think that in spite of the pessimism the fact is that things have happened. I believe that all of us should give priority to this peace. It was a very hard decision for our Prime Minister to take but he took it and he should get credit for it. I think it wasn't simple for the President of the Palestinian people to do, but likewise he did it. None of them could provide everything their people expected but provided what the people need. Peace is a real need for both parties, none of us have an alternative. The overall situation in the Middle East is quite bleak and if we can achieve an agreement between us and the Palestinians it is good news in a region that needs good news. "