Viet Nam was worried about the rising tension in the Middle East and condemns Israel for its decision to build new resettlement areas in East Jerusalem, said Ministry of Foreign Affair's spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga yesterday.

In response to a question about Viet Nam's reaction to recent developments in the Middle East, Nga said: "Viet Nam supports the statement released on March 19 by the Middle East Quartet (United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations) and calls for restraint from the concerned parties."

She said that Viet Nam also called on both sides to avoid unilateral action that might aggravate the situation in order to create conditions for the resumption of the peace process in the Middle East. — VNS