US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (2nd R) addresses the media during a press conference held after a series of crucial meetings by the Middle East Quartet at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York May 9. -Xinhua

The Middle East Quartet yesterday agreed to provide assistance to the Palestinian people through a temporary international mechanism.

The Quartet begun a series of crucial meetings Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York to explore ways of reviving the stalled peace process in the Middle East and avert a deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Representatives of the Quartet, including UN Secretary General Kofi Anna, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, held day-long high-level consultations at the UN headquarters in New York after meeting with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

In a statement released after the consultations, the Quartet endorsed a temporary international mechanism to channel aid to the Palestinian people for a trial period to ease a financial squeeze on the new government following the election of Hamas.

"The quartet expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the statement said "a lack of action by the parties in certain key areas has stalled progress on the Roadmap," and urged both parties to avoid actions which could prejudge final status issues or undermine progress toward this goal.

The Quartet reiterated its grave concern that the Palestinian Authority government has so far failed to commit itself to the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, and urged the Palestinian Authority to act decisively against terrorism and bring an end to violence.

It also expressed concern over Israeli military operations that result in the loss of innocent life, and urged both parties to avoid unilateral measures which prejudice final status issues.

Washington has vowed to suspend all dealings with Hamas, officially named the Islamic Resistance Movement, until the alleged a terrorist organization renounces its armed struggle against Israel and recognizes the Jewish state's right to exist.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at a news conference that "the thrust of the statement is that the international community is still trying to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people."

"It is to provide assistance to the Palestinian people so they do not suffer deprivation," she added.

Ferrero-Waldner told reporters that EU proposed to have a meeting of experts as soon as possible in Brussels in order to draw up the parameters for the EU-initiated mechanism.

She hoped such kind of mechanism could be set up in a few weeks.