Geneva, March 24, 2007 (WAFA) - The UAE said it is necessary to resume efforts toward permanent peace and stability in the Middle East.

The UAE further stressed that those efforts should do justice to the peoples of the world should include establishing the right of the Palestinian people to freedom, self-determination in an independent viable state.

In a statement delivered before the 4th session of the Human Rights Council (12 to 30 March 2007) by its Permanent Representative to United Nations in Geneva Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi, the UAE expressed appreciation for the efforts by John Dugard the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories -oPT- and his neutrality, impartiality and objectivity in investigating Israel's human rights violations.

The statement expressed the "UAE's hopes that the economic siege laid to the National Palestinian Authority would soon be lifted to stop the deterioration of the economic and human rights situation."

A.D (16:30P) (14:30GMT)