Palestine’s UN membership; peace process – SecGen press encounter with President of Switzerland – Press briefing

/…

Q: Thank you very much, my name is Xin, I'm from China Central Television, the national television of China. Just now you commended the role that Switzerland has played as a very recent member of the United Nations. Are you also looking forward to a similar role maybe, to a different role that the Palestinian people can play in the United Nations. How long do you think we can wait until that day happens and where are we now?

SG: The Palestinian people have been suffering during the last, over six decades. First of all they have not been able to enjoy genuine freedom and socio-economic support, and human rights. We have to support their genuine aspirations to become an independent state, a sovereign state, as part of a two-State solution were Palestinians and Israelis can live side-by-side in peace and security. This relationship between Palestinians and Israelis, under peace and stability, will have very serious and important implications for [the] overall Middle-East peace process. That is why the United Nations has been working very hard. The United Nations has been taking numerous resolutions, both at the General Assembly and at the Security Council. In that regard, I fully support all this, what they are trying to do. But what I'd like to emphasize at this time, as a Secretary-General of the UN, and also as a member of the Quartet; that all their genuine aspirations would be better served if they come out from this negotiated settlement. That is what I fully believe and I will continue to work on that basis.

/…