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UNITED NATIONS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the worrying developments in the Middle East.  He deplores the destruction of the Palestinian radio and television station in Ramallah by Israeli forces on 19 January and he is very concerned by the major Israeli incursion today into the Palestinian city of Tulkarem, in contravention of signed bilateral agreements. 

The Secretary-General reiterates his conviction that a solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be reached through force.  He again urges both sides to make every effort to stop the violence and rededicate their efforts to achieving a durable ceasefire leading to the implementation of the Mitchell recommendations and starting a meaningful dialogue aimed at a just and lasting peace based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.