UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expected to see substantial results in the upcoming Quartet meeting on the Middle East, UN spokesperson Michele Montas said on Thursday.

    Montas told reporters at the daily briefing that Ban hopes that the Quartet will seriously engage with the key issues that have a direct impact on the situation on the ground, going beyond mere statements.

    "He is fully aware that, within the region and beyond, many are looking at the Quartet to be more energetic in its efforts than it has been at times to break the current impasse in the peace process," she said.

    Ban, on behalf of the United Nations, will be participating on Friday in his first meeting of the so-called diplomatic Quartet in Washington with top officials of the other three partners including the United States, Russia, and the European Union (EU).