A statement published by the Middle East Quartet on 26 September 2008 in New York, NY, following a meeting between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, EU High Representative Javier Solana, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Quartet Representative Tony Blair. The leaders affirmed their support for the Annapolis Process and the two-state solution, called on both sides to honor their obligations, and expressed hope that an agreement would be reached by the end of 2008.