Question of Palestine, Middle East situation – GA 66th session general debate – Verbatim record (excerpts)

 Official Records 

General Assembly 

Sixty-sixth session 

12th plenary meeting 

Wednesday, 21 September 2011, 3 p.m. 

New York

Address by Mr. Porfirio Lobo Sosa, President of the Republic of Honduras 

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 It is also timely to reaffirm my decisive commitment as a leader to this Organization, which represents the best forum for addressing and resolving the problems facing the world in the quest for the common welfare of humankind based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. I reaffirm our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in particular to the principle that we are all free and equal in dignity and rights. This concept includes peoples and nations alike. Over and above geopolitical interests, the self-determination of peoples is inviolable and inalienable. All peoples have the right to their own territory, cultural identity and traditions. 

 In this context, my Government has recognized Palestine as a State and endorses its legitimate aspiration to become a full member in the concert of nations. Full security for the State of Israel and full international recognition for Palestine are essential conditions for a comprehensive negotiated two-State solution providing for strong and lasting peace through mutual understanding. If we want peace, we must recall that peace is based on respect not only for human rights, but also for the rights of peoples and nations. 

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Address by Mr. Fernando Lugo Méndez, President of the Republic of Paraguay 

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 Consistent with the stance it has taken in international forums, in particular the United Nations, and considering the resolutions that condemn the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, such as Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979) and 478 (1980), Paraguay established diplomatic relations with Palestine on 25 March 2005 and recognizes a free and independent Palestinian State based on the borders of 4 June 1967. 

 We are gratified that the agenda of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly includes the recognition of the free, sovereign and independent State of Palestine. We are convinced that this is a confirmation of the historic debt of the international community to recognize the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to have its own State with well-defined borders. This will be a significant contribution to the peace process in the Middle East. 

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Address by Mr. Željko Komšić, Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina 

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 We are deeply concerned by the standstill in crisis resolution in the Middle East. Despite the optimistic announcements and plans made, the peace process has not yet been revived, as had been expected. The only way forward is a solution that is based on the principle of the peaceful coexistence of two sovereign States: a viable and independent Palestine and a stable and secure Israel, with respect for the provisions of international law and humanitarian law and human rights instruments. 

 To date, the United Nations has supported and actively participated in the creation of a positive atmosphere in order to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that the conditions for a lasting and just solution can be achieved with additional political will and responsibility on the part of the negotiating parties. 

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Address by Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana 

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 Importantly, within the United Nations, we already have many of the entities we need to solve these problems in an integrated way. That realization should motivate us to understand that by next year’s United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, we can start to make the progress that is necessary. 

 But that means consistency in our efforts to address all forms of insecurity. We need to support peaceful peoples everywhere to assert their basic rights to physical security and development. The global response to the Arab Spring and other peace movements across the Middle East has been remarkable for its inconsistency. Guyana supports the right of the Palestinian people to full statehood and urges the acceleration of the negotiations to achieve this. Palestinian rights and blood are as valuable and important as those of people everywhere else. I urge all Members to support the draft resolution when it comes before this body. 

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Address by Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa

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 South Africa continues to support international efforts to assist the people of Palestine and Israel to find lasting peace. The decades-old struggle of the Palestinian people for a sovereign State of their own has now reached a turning point. The Palestinian Authority, backed by the League of Arab States, has stated its intention to seek United Nations membership for the State of Palestine. South Africa fully supports this position. It is a decisive step towards achieving lasting peace, economic cooperation and prosperity for the millions of people in the Middle East, and we urge that it be viewed favourably. 

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Address by Mr. Andris Bērziņš, President of the Republic of Latvia

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 Today the international community has a historic responsibility to make the Middle East a safer, more prosperous and more democratic place to live. We must support the Middle East peace process with the goal of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Latvia strongly encourages both sides to resume dialogue without delay. Sustainable peace is possible only if the Israelis and the Palestinians reach an agreement that takes into account the legitimate interests of both sides. The international community — the United Nations, the Quartet, the Arab League and others — should act together to help both sides to return to the negotiation table. 

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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.