For its part, the Israeli Government has acted well by rejecting requests for delay in the withdrawal and by standing firm against opposition to the disengagement process.

The disengagement initiative is not Israel's first plan of choice.

It is therefore our hope that the withdrawal will be sustained, coordinated and peaceful.

That is an absolute imperative a few weeks before the withdrawal from Gaza begins.

The question, of course, is what will happen after the Gaza disengagement.

The act of disengagement, in and of itself, will be a landmark in Israeli Palestinian relations.

Therefore, Denmark strongly urges that all efforts be focused on making the disengagement successful.

The Organization urged the parties to utilize the disengagement plan as a first step in returning to full negotiations.

Disengagement holds the potential to reinvigorate the road map and to realize genuine progress towards peace.

We commend the efforts of the international community, particularly the Quartet, to ensure that the disengagement proceeds in a coordinated manner.

Disengagement from Gaza would be a decisive step in that direction.

This requires that the promised Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank succeed.

The Quartet expresses its full support for James Wolfensohn, its Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement.

But the Palestinians' political future must not be limited to the withdrawal that must be an initial step within the framework of the road map.

On 28 March, the Knesset rejected draft legislation to introduce a national referendum on disengagement.

We believe that successful disengagement can be the first step towards the resumption of the peace process.

Disengagement was a significant step towards implementing the road map, and positive steps had been taken on both sides.

A successful disengagement is vital, and only one month remains before it is scheduled to start.

Unraveling the nexus between security and integration means nothing less than rejecting the formula of Europe s peace.

Coordination and cooperation will be needed even more in the challenging transition period once disengagement is complete.

The aim of the meeting was to review the current situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Gaza disengagement.

Fortunately, the stated readiness of Israelis and Palestinians to coordinate the Israeli disengagement has begun to be reflected in practice.

My delegation considers the Israeli disengagement from Gaza to be a positive move that could contribute to peace and stability and to economic improvement in the area.

Continued bilateral coordination will be one way to ensure that disengagement proceeds successfully and contributes to the momentum for peace.

It is therefore essential to de link R D incentives from drug prices, and to promote greater sharing of scientific knowledge.

Several weeks before the Israeli disengagement from Gaza is to begin, the situation in the Middle East unfortunately remains a subject of great concern.

Donors concluded that disengagement should be implemented on the basis of close coordination among the parties, within the context of the road map.

Indeed, Israel's Prime Minister made that clear in December 2003, when outlining the disengagement initiative for the first time.

As Alvaro de Soto rightly said, a successful Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is in everyone's interests.

In September, Israel carried out its disengagement plan in the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank.

Many governments were initially skeptical about disengagement, but realized that as the Washington saying goes this is the only game in town.

Direct dialogue and communication are essential first steps towards ensuring that the disengagement is as smooth and non violent as possible.

We will continue to work via the Quartet Special Envoy and United States Security Coordinator missions on the economic and security agenda and maintain the momentum for disengagement.

The Quartet envoys met yesterday in Jerusalem and discussed preparations for the disengagement initiative and how best to support Mr. Wolfensohn.

Australia recognized and applauded the courage and commitment shown by Prime Minister Sharon in successfully achieving Israel's disengagement from Gaza.

To that end, Israel should resolve all the remaining issues, inter alia, by lifting the severe restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinian persons and goods, removing the strangulating military sieges and closures, and ceasing its construction of the wall.

A central challenge to be addressed between now and mid August remains improving the security situation and creating conditions that will be conducive to the success of the disengagement plan.

In addition, we consider Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and from parts of the northern West Bank last September to be a positive move.

There is simply no way that Iraq can be stabilized without America moving from a policy of disengagement to one of engagement with these two major regional spoilers.

However, the Israeli disengagement, which had been unilaterally planned and implemented, had failed to recognize Palestinian concerns and had left many critical issues unresolved.

It should be very clear, however, that Israel will not waver in its intention to complete the disengagement and pursue peace.

Right now, the focus of our efforts, as well as those of the international community, should be on working towards the successful implementation of the Gaza disengagement plan.

While we welcome Israel's planned disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, that disengagement must be full and complete if it is to contribute positively to our search for a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.

In accordance with the new disengagement initiative, Israel was evacuating its citizens from the Gaza Strip and it would not be appropriate to interfere in areas that were now governed by the Palestinian Authority.

But, whatever new terms are struck, the degree of US disengagement from the Middle East will depend on how two key questions are answered.