SecGen report on the work of the Organization/Question of Palestine – GA general debate – Verbatim record (excerpts)

Official Records

General Assembly 

Sixty-sixth session 

31st plenary meeting 

Tuesday, 4 October 2011, 10 a.m. 

New York 

Report of the Secretary-General on the work of
the Organization (A/66/1) 

 The President: Members will recall that the Secretary-General presented his annual report (A/66/1) to the General Assembly at its 11th plenary meeting, on 21 September. 

 Mr. Nishida (Japan): …

/…

 The United Nations must also play a proactive role in the Middle East peace process. Japan fully understands the earnest aspirations of Palestinians to build their own nation and strongly hopes for an immediate resumption of direct negotiations between the parties. Japan calls on all concerned to refrain from any provocative actions that could impede the peace process. A complete freeze on settlement activities is essential in that connection. Japan is committed to contribute continuously to the efforts of the international community for the realization of a two-State solution. 

/…

 Mr. Abdelaziz (Egypt): …

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 Over the year covered in the report, the Secretary-General has shown leadership and determination in dealing with many of the issues in the international arena, from supporting the results of the free and fair elections in Côte d’Ivoire; to backing the return to normalcy in Somalia and Afghanistan and many other parts of the world; to playing a leading role in the search for a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, to name only a few. …

/…

 What do we now expect from the Secretary-General in the first year of his second term? We expect full support for the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, a State that is a full Member of the United Nations, in fulfilment of a long-overdue international commitment. …

/…

 Mr. Diallo (Senegal) (spoke in French): …

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 While it is undeniable that as a result of such activities the United Nations is the crucial platform in the search for solutions to existing concerns, we must recognize that, given the complexity of emerging challenges, any weakness, slowness or negligence might undermine the effectiveness of the creditable actions that we conduct. 

 Accordingly, we should pay particular attention to the changes that have occurred in the Middle East, which will certainly have a decisive impact on peace and stability in the region. As a universal Organization, the United Nations has the main responsibility to use its prerogatives to find optimal responses to the obstacles before us in our ongoing quest for peace. We must break through the status quo to find vital solutions for creating conditions for coexistence in peace and security between Israelis and Palestinians.

 That will without a doubt require the establishment next to Israel of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, in secure and internationally recognized borders. That is the only possible means of salvation in the region.

/…

 Mr. Khan (India): …

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 This year we also have another opportunity to translate the dreams of the Palestinian people into reality. As Prime Minister Singh said to the Assembly on 24 September, we look forward to welcoming Palestine as an equal Member of the United Nations. 

/…

The President: We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item for this meeting. 

 May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization, which is contained in document A/66/1? 

 It was so decided. 

 The President: The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 110. 

This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-506. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum.