United Nations, March 21 (NNN-KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the establishment of the new Palestinian government but warned that he will be monitoring its actions to see whether it will abide by the Quartet principles, his spokesperson said.
"The Secretary-General views the establishment of a new Palestinian Government as an important and positive step forward and he wants to encourage that process," spokesperson Michele Montas told the daily press briefing Tuesday.
At the same time, she added, he expressed "disappointment because he would like to see the programme of National Unity Government fully reflect Quartet principles." They are recognition of Israel and previous signed agreements and rejection of violence.
Montas said Ban "would be watching very carefully the new government action and hope to see further positive movement in that direction."
Ban is leaving New York later this week to visit Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Saudi Arabia, where he will attend the Arab Summit, and Lebanon.