Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday his Gaza pullout plan will lead to the implementation of the roadmap peace plan drafted by the Mideast quartet.  

He made these remarks during a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who just arrived in Jerusalem after attending the Iraq conference in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. Sharon said Israel rejects any new peace initiative before the Palestinian presidential elections due on Jan. 9.Lavrov proposed to Sharon that the quartet, comprising the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, could help advance the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The quartet, which met on the sidelines of the Iraq conference on early Tuesday, agreed to support the Palestinian elections financially.

It also urged Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinians before the elections.

Diplomatic activities on the Middle East peace process have picked up their momentum since the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Nov. 11.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories on Monday to reaffirm to both sides President George W. Bush's commitment to the roadmap that envisions a Palestinian state by 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2004)