{"id":195548,"date":"2009-03-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T17:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=195548"},"modified":"2019-03-12T17:01:52","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T17:01:52","slug":"auto-insert-195548","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-195548\/","title":{"rendered":"International Conference on the Palestinian Economy and Gaza Reconstruction (Sharm el-Sheikh) – SecGen remarks – Press release"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Secretary-General<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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SG\/SM\/12120<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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PAL\/2113<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tDepartment of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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WHEN REBUILDING GAZA, FOUNDATION MUST BE DURABLE CEASEFIRE, SECRETARY-GENERAL<\/u><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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TELLS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PALESTINIAN ECONOMY, GAZA RECONSTRUCTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the international conference on the Palestinian economy and Gaza reconstruction, in Sharm el-Sheikh, today:<\/p><\/div>\n

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I am immensely happy to see you together for this important conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We are here, today, to express our solidarity with the people of Palestine, and especially those of Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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President [Hosni] Mubarak, thank you, especially, for your leadership at this challenging time.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Egypt’s role has been key to ongoing efforts to achieve a durable ceasefire, which we so desperately need.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We are working to improve humanitarian conditions on the ground.<\/p><\/div>\n

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With this timely conference, we begin the vital work of reconstructing Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The innocent, it is said, pay the highest price in war.<\/p><\/div>\n

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So it was during the recent crisis in Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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People who had already endured so much hardship, for so many years, now face even more.<\/p><\/div>\n

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They face a future of anxiety if not despair.<\/p><\/div>\n

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As we all know, the situation remains fragile.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We have seen new rocket attacks and new bombings.<\/p><\/div>\n

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During my recent visit to the region, I went to both Israel and to Gaza.  I stood in the United Nations compound, which was still burning.  I saw for myself the human misery.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I met many leaders in the region and beyond.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I asked for their help in halting the violence, and I value their efforts.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Many are here today.  I thank you all for your commitment and your leadership.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We are here, formally, to discuss the Palestinian economy and the reconstruction of Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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But we need to think of the big picture.  We need to think comprehensively.<\/p><\/div>\n

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When building a house, we begin with the foundation.<\/p><\/div>\n

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So too with our work today.  When it comes to rebuilding Gaza, this foundation must be a durable ceasefire.<\/p><\/div>\n

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And that, in turn, requires us to face a number of political realities — and to deal with them squarely.<\/p><\/div>\n

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First, the humanitarian issue.<\/p><\/div>\n

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For the United Nations, this is paramount.  We need to be able to deliver aid and implement our social and economic programmes.  This is the starting point of reconstruction.<\/p><\/div>\n

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In this regard, the situation at the border crossings is intolerable.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Aid workers do not have access.  Essential commodities cannot get in.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Construction materials and spare parts are needed to repair damaged water and sanitation systems.  There is no concrete or steel to build homes or shelters.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Our first and indispensable goal, therefore, is open crossings.  By the same token, it is essential to ensure that illegal weapons do not enter Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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This is the point of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).<\/p><\/div>\n

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Second, we support the efforts of the Palestinian Authority led by President [Mahmoud] Abbas to reconstruct Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n

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However, the full potential of the plan can only be realized with political progress.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I have spoken about the need for a durable ceasefire and open border crossings.<\/p><\/div>\n

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But we also need Palestinian reconciliation.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Without it, we would have to think very creatively about how we can implement our recovery plans.<\/p><\/div>\n

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That is why the United Nations strongly supports Palestinian reunification under the Palestinian Authority.  We urge all factions to work constructively towards this end under Egypt’s auspices.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Third, we must recognize that we are entering a new chapter, with new challenges and with new opportunities.<\/p><\/div>\n

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With United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in this hall, I would like to say how encouraged I am by the speed with which President Barack Obama has engaged in the Middle East.  The appointment of Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell is also cause for optimism.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Early and full engagement of the United States is indispensable if we are to make real progress.<\/p><\/div>\n

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In the same spirit, I urge a new Israeli Government to fully engage as well.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Fourth, the peace process.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Nothing is more important.<\/p><\/div>\n

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As we deal with the challenge of recovery and reconstruction, we must also rebuild political relationships — among Palestinians, between Palestinians and Israelis, between Israel and the Arab world.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I look forward to an active Quartet, both here in Sharm el-Sheikh and beyond.<\/p><\/div>\n

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It is crucial that we support President Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad.  That requires meaningful political progress, particularly a freeze on settlements.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Whatever new Government emerges in Israel, I call on it to honour existing commitments.<\/p><\/div>\n

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In closing, let me note that we have taken some promising initial steps.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We can be grateful for the support we have received for the United Nations flash appeal.  I urge you to be equally generous for the consolidated appeal, which includes programming for the West Bank.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We should also strongly support the Palestinian Authority’s Gaza early recovery and reconstruction plan.<\/p><\/div>\n

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It is designed to help people rebuild their lives, restore social services and promote longer term development, including the creation of a more vibrant private sector.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I call for action now.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The United Nations stands ready to help implement the plan.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The people of Gaza cannot and should not wait any longer.<\/p><\/div>\n

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None of us here today seeks a return to the status quo, as President [Nicolas] Sarkozy stated.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The situation prevailing on 27 December was untenable, in Gaza and more broadly.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We must move on.  We must move forward.<\/p><\/div>\n

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There is only one viable future: Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace and security.<\/p><\/div>\n

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That is why, like you, I say:  This is our moment.<\/p><\/div>\n

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If ever there were a time to think freshly, to lead boldly, it is now.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Let us begin today.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I look forward to your successful discussion.<\/p><\/div>\n

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For information media • not an official record<\/strong> <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Secretary-General SG\/SM\/12120 PAL\/2113 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York WHEN REBUILDING GAZA, FOUNDATION MUST BE DURABLE CEASEFIRE, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PALESTINIAN ECONOMY, GAZA RECONSTRUCTION   Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the international conference on the Palestinian economy and Gaza reconstruction, in Sharm el-Sheikh, today: […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[810],"document-category":[2433,1329,2637,3205],"document-source":[5352,1897],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1945,1937,2005,5200,1797,1638],"entity":[1985,1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-195548","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-egypt","document-category-french-text","document-category-press-release","document-category-remarks","document-category-secretary-general-press-release","document-source-secretary-general","document-source-united-nations-department-of-public-information-dpi","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-economic-issues","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-humanitarian-relief","document-subject-peace-process","document-subject-quartet","entity-state","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/195548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/195548\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=195548"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=195548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}