Middle East situation/Palestine question – GA high-level debate – Press release (excerpts)

Plenary

15^th, 16^th & 17^th Meetings (AM & PM)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, UN REFORM, ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

AMONG ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE CONTINUED

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Background

The General Assembly met this morning to continue its general debate.

Statements

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SOMSAVAT LENGSAVAD, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, …

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He said the recent resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula was welcomed, and he hoped for the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free Korean peninsula.  In order to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East, the question of Palestine should be resolved.  …

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SILVAN SHALOM, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, said Israel welcomed a new readiness for contact with the Arab and Muslim world, and encouraged its neighbours to build on the foundations his country was now laying.  Calling on his Arab and Muslim colleagues to bring their contacts out into the light of day, he also asked those leaders to join Israel in speaking to the public of peace rather than conflict, and of reasons to cooperate instead of reasons to boycott.  He also called upon the international community — and his Arab and Muslim counterparts — to work together with Israel to ensure that meetings resulted in concrete projects that would help reinforce Israel’s peace efforts on the ground.

It was also the time, he said, for the international community to renew its investment in the future of the Middle East by reviving the multilateral track of the region’s peace talks.  The evacuation of all Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip had opened the door to a new future, and he said such action provided the Palestinian side with a chance to take their fate into their own hands.  He hoped that Gaza would serve as a model of how the Palestinian Authority was able to build a functioning, democratic and peaceful society.  The international community’s priority must be ensuring that the Palestinian Authority and its institutions could deliver the services and outcomes that its people and Israel’s expected and deserved.  The Palestinian Authority must also deliver on its commitment to end the campaign of terror against Israel, he added.

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MOHAMMAD SABAH AL-SALEM AL-SABAH, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, …

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Reiterating Kuwait’s support for the Palestinian struggle, he demanded that Israel fulfil its commitments under United Nations resolutions, the land-for-peace principle and the Arab peace initiative, as well as bilateral accords with the Palestinian Authority.  It should also stop oppressing the Palestinian people, dismantle the separation wall and release all Palestinian detainees.  Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip should be followed by measures to end the occupation, in preparation for an independent Palestinian State.

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M. MOHAMMED BEDJAOUI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, …

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He was also concerned with the ability of the people of Iraq to return to a condition of peace and stability.  Iraqi sovereignty should accompany territorial integrity and provide a theatre for economic prosperity and democracy to flourish.  Towards that end, commitments made by Arab leaders at the March summit at Algiers must be implemented.  He added, however, that the move towards peace and sustainable economic development in the Middle East would not have the momentum it needed unless the Palestinian people recovered its complete sovereignty, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of its independent State.

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MOHAMED VALL OULD BELLAL, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, said obtaining the objectives of peace, stability and security hinged on the effectiveness with which the combat against terror was waged.  That combat required global cooperation, he added, stressing that Mauritania rejected the scourge and that terrorism had absolutely nothing to do with the peaceful religion of Islam.  On the Middle East peace process, he called for further efforts to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people in the wake of Israel’s withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip.  Mauritania was also following closely the situations in Iraq, Sudan and the Western Sahara.

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FABIO BERARDI, Minister for Foreign and Political Affairs and Justice of San Marino, …

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He said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had shown great courage and determination by removing settlers from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  …

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For information media • not an official record