Middle East situation – GA general debate – Press release (excerpts)

Fifty-seventh General Assembly

Plenary

15^th Meeting (PM)

ECONOMIC REFORM, DEVELOPMENT AS TOOL IN MAINTAINING PEACE

AMONG ISSUES RAISED, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE CONTINUES

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Statements

RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, …

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Turning to other issues, he said that Sri Lanka strongly supported a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, providing for two States that could prosper in conditions of peace and security.  It was time for the resumption of a serious dialogue between the parties; in Sri Lanka, dialogue and negotiations had turned around a drawn-out conflict.  However, the approach taken in regard to the fight against terrorism should be different.  Global terrorism needed to be eradicated in all of its manifestations. 

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M. MORSHED KHAN, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, …

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Turning to the Middle East, he said the continued denial of the rights of the Palestinian people to their own State and freedom was another source of concern.  “The continued illegal occupation of Palestinian land, trampling of human rights and atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinian people by Israel must end immediately”, he said.  He called for the resumption of serious efforts to seek a comprehensive solution to the problem that addressed the legitimate concerns of the Palestinian people. 

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MAHAMAT SALEH ANNADIF, Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration of Chad, …

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He expressed concern about the situation in the Middle East, which was the result of the failure to comply with the resolutions of the Assembly and the Security Council.  Given its obligation to be fair to all Member States, the Security Council should banish its policy of double standards and enforce its resolutions.  Real peace in the Middle East demanded it.  …

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ABOU DRAHAMANE SANGARE, Minister of State and Minister for External Relations and Ivorians Abroad of Côte d’Ivoire, …

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The crisis in the Middle East constituted a grave threat to international peace and security, he said.  Its persistence seemed to expose the impotence of the international community.  The central challenge was to have a viable Palestinian State and Israel living within internationally recognized and secure borders; in that light, the Saudi initiative should be saluted, as it recognized Israel’s right to exist alongside a Palestinian State.  …

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AICHATOU MINDAOUDOU, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration of Niger, …

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… Niger, despite its limited resources, had been contributing to peacekeeping efforts on the continent and overseas, in such places as Haiti.  In its bid to bring peace to the Middle East and as an expression of support for the Palestinian people, it had broken ties with Israel.  …

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JOSEPH PHILIPPE ANTONIO, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, said that Security Council reform was now more important than ever.  He called for more openness in the Council’s operation and more representation in its decision-making.  Regarding the escalating violence in the Middle East, he called on key players to settle their differences peacefully through dialogue.  …

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