Sixty-eighth GA general debate/Palestine question – Statements by Iraq and other States – GA press release (excerpts)

Plenary

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

MINISTER DESCRIBES USE OF FORCE TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS AS 'INEFFECTIVE, MEANINGLESS

AND DESTRUCTIVE', ON FOURTH DAY OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ANNUAL DEBATE

Speakers Hail Accord on Chemical Weapons, Resumed Israeli-Palestinian Talks

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Background

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

Statements

AL HADJI YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH, President of Gambia, …

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… He … supported the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine.

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KHUDHEIR AL-KHUZAIE, Vice-President of Iraq, …

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He said that, despite his staunch faith in all humanity, he was not precluded from siding with the oppressed, disadvantaged or vulnerable, and was not prevented from expressing solidarity with the Arab and Islamic nation.  Among them, the Palestinians still suffered oppression, and it was incumbent on international institutions to stand by a people demanding the realization of their rights and independence.  …

MANUEL DOMINGOS VICENTE, Vice-President of Angola, …

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… On the Israel and Palestine conflict, he expressed support for mediation efforts undertaken by United States Secretary of State John Kerry.  A Palestinian State with the territorial borders drawn in 1967 must coexist peacefully with Israel.

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MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF, Prime Minister of Pakistan, …

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… Turning to the Middle East, he looked forward to Palestine becoming a full Member State of the United Nations and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.  …

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SERGEY V. LAVROV, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, …

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… At the same time, the Syrian conflict must not overshadow the question of Palestine, he said, calling on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to shoulder their responsibilities.  The Quartet remained the internationally recognized mechanism of assistance to the peace process, alongside the Madrid Principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.  …

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FRANCISCUS CORNELIS GERARDUS MARIA TIMMERMANS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, …

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… He also affirmed his country’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  …

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NGUYEN TAN DUNG, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, …

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Trust among nations must be fostered through honesty, sincerity and concrete actions, such as the lifting of the arms embargo against Cuba or the recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, he said.  The Security Council’s role must be promoted as the fulcrum for building consensus in order to prompt all nations to join hands in preserving peace.  …

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JEAN ASSELBORN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, … He said he was encouraged by the new direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.  “We all know that this initiative is perhaps the last opportunity we have,” he noted.  “We must not let it slip away.  The consequences could be dramatic.”  The time had come to implement the two-State solution and all violence must stop.

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EVANGELOS VENIZELOS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, …

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… He said that the launching of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine was a positive step towards security in the region, as now was the time to take bold and concrete steps towards peace.  …

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MOHAMED BAZOUM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niger, …

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… On Palestine, he asked how a people could be denied of its basic rights.  Echoing many other countries, he encouraged a two-State solution.  …

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MARTY M. NATALEGAWA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, …

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Similarly on the issue of Palestine, the full weight of diplomatic pressure must be brought to bear and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions must be implemented, he said.  He welcomed the resumption of direct negotiations, which was a result of relentless diplomatic efforts.  …

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For information media • not an official record