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

Fifty-seventh General Assembly

Plenary

4^th Meeting (AM)

DRUG TRAFFICKING, TERRORISM, DEEPENING POVERTY, AMONG ISSUES ADDRESSED

AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES ANNUAL DEBATE

New York City Mayor Addresses Member States

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DENIS SASSOU-NGUESSO, President of the Republic of the Congo, said two years ago during the Millennium Summit, the international community expressed its desire to ensure sustainable development for all.  A particular aim of that historic meeting had been to halve the number of the world’s poor by 2015.  Unfortunately, the lack of peace, conflict and insecurities were undermining many efforts at ensuring sustainable development.  The international community should redouble its efforts to help maintain worldwide stability, particularly in the Middle East, where the situation was unraveling at an alarming rate. 

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MARC RAVALOMANANA, President of Madagascar, …

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The persistence of conflict in several regions of the world, particularly in the Middle East, required a renewal of the Organization’s purpose in the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as reform to make the Security Council more democratic, representative and transparent, he said.  …

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ANEROOD JUGNAUTH, Prime Minister of Mauritius, …

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In the Middle East, where the death toll rose daily, he wanted to see the early establishment of a Palestinian State, side-by-side with Israel and based on agreed and secure boundaries.  Palestinians needed a State machinery, which observed the fundamental norms of a democratic system, with responsibility and accountability on the part of the leaders.  They alone had the absolute right to elect their leaders, when elections were held on 20 January 2003.  Further, Iraqi authorities should comply fully and unconditionally with Security Council resolutions and allow arms inspectors to fulfil their mandate.  The United Nations system was the best guarantee for international peace and security. 

SILVIO BERLUSCONI, Prime Minister of Italy, …

On the issue of the Middle East, Mr. Berlusconi expressed support for the work of the "Quartet", as well as for convening an international convention to assure peaceful coexistence between two independent States with safe and secure borders.  Terrorist attacks needed to cease, and free and fair elections needed to be held to advance the democratic reform of the Palestinian Authority.  The economic gap between Israelis and Palestinians also needed to be narrowed.  In support of that goal, Italy had presented a plan to rebuild and support the Palestinian economy and offered to host peace negotiations.

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