UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on Palestinians and Israelis to abandon violence and resume peace talks under the roadmap peace plan.

At the meeting marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Annan said it is high time that the parties began to live up to their commitments under it, China Radio International reported Tuesday.

Annan hoped that the memory of Yasser Arafat will inspire the Palestinian people to remain united and strengthened in their efforts to realize their national aspiration for statehood and self-determination through peaceful means.

The roadmap peace proposal was drawn up by the Mideast Quartet - the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union. It envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2005.

(CRI.com, November 30, 2004)