NEW YORK, October 1, 2014 (WAFA)
– As the UN General Assembly’s 69th session continues with the
general debate for the sixth day, leaders from across the world stressed that
solving the Palestinian issue will certainly advance peace to the region.
Following are quotes by some of the
world leaders addressing the UN General Assembly on the Palestinian issue:
- Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs Yousef Bin Al-Alawi Bin Abdulla, Sultanate of
Oman
'The Middle East is going
through a difficult phase as it grapples with several crises in the lack of
international consensus. We think that the general situation in the Middle East
requires a unified position to solve these crises, the most immediate of which
is the Palestinian question, which, without doubt, lies at the center of conflicts
in the region. We have noticed that while the Palestinians have shown
willingness to enter into a genuine partnership in peace with Israel based on
the concept of two states living side by side in peace, Israel has not shown
any responsible cooperation as it continues to resort to military force as a
tool to achieve its security.
Security and stability cannot be
achieved through the use of excessive force and the insistence to inflict heavy
loss of lives, injuries and destruction on the largest possible scale. The path
to achieving security and stability that underpins economic and social recovery
can only be realized through partnership in peace between the Palestinians and
the Israelis. We believe there is a chance now to achieve this objective following
the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides. We stress the importance
that the two sides stick to this agreement and avoid any violations under any
justifications or pretexts. In this respect, we call upon the Palestinians and
the Israelis to resume negotiations in order to reach a just and comprehensive
settlement that would provide peace and security for Israel and responds to the
hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people.'
-Attorney General, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign
Trade Wilfred Elrington – Belize
'We are seriously concerned by the indiscriminate death and
the destruction recently meted out to innocent Palestinian civilians,
especially helpless women and children in Gaza. We reiterate our support for
the co-existence of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine in peace and
security in their respective pre-1967 international borders as recognized by
the International community.'
-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Maxine Pamela
Ometa McClean – Barbados
'Barbados has long supported a negotiated two-state
solution to the question of Palestine, the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, and to live in peace and security in a Palestinian state
within pre-1967 borders. Barbados' position is that the State of Israel has a
right to exist and the people of Israel have a right to live in security and to
do so with the full and undisputed recognition of the rest of the world. The
Palestinians are also entitled to enjoy the fruits of prosperity within their
own sovereign state. This year's unprecedented escalation of the crises in
Palestine revealed, yet again, the urgent need to reach a durable, negotiated
solution, and we call on all parties to rededicate themselves to achieving this
aim.'
-Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Santos López -
Republic of Nicaragua
'We must put an immediate end to
the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land, and not allow Israel to
once again continue its aggression and brutal attacks on Palestinian men, Women
and children. The Security Council should once and for all fulfill their
obligations and demand that Israel end these policies and practices to make way
for the sovereign and independent State of Palestine, based on its pre-1967
borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and so that both States, Palestine
and Israel can coexist in peace. Nicaragua reiterates its absolute and
unconditional solidarity with the state of Palestine in their fight for their
freedom and their inalienable rights.'
-Former President and Special Envoy of the President Mohamed
Waheed Republic of Maldives
'At times, violence and
bloodshed, conflict and upheaval that we witness daily, seem unbearable.
In July this year, we watched with grief, the horrendous attack on
Gaza, another, in a countless cycle of aggression and brutality. Our
hearts bleed for the countless children who lost their lives, mothers who
lost their children, the nation, the State of Palestine, that lost
countless citizens. After the global outcry, and the outpouring of
condemnation, when the guns stopped firing, and the bombs stopped dropping,
the world seems to have moved on to the next crisis. The news cycles have
found their next headline. Yet, we remind you here again: the siege
is not over. The blockade has not ended. Gaza has been destroyed.
Development set back several years. Palestinians are still being denied
their right to a sovereign nation of their own: to their own lands: to
the fruits of their labour. Those children are being denied a right to
determine their own destiny. Are you willing to let this continue? We must
do more, to help realise the dream of peace in the Middle East, and a
two-state solution. We must resume peace-talks, with a clear goal and an
endpoint in mind.'
-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Political
Integration Leonardo Arizaga- Euador
'On July 17th 2014,
the government of Ecuador powerfully condemned the Israeli military incursion
to Palestinian territory and demanded an immediate cease of the operations of
the Israeli army and its indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population
in the Gaza Strip. My country made a call to the (international) community to
assume its responsibility to stop the indiscriminate attacks in order to save
innocent lives and preserve international peace and security (…) As a show of
support for the Palestinian cause, Ecuador decided to open a diplomatic
representation to that country, which is fully working, at the same time that
few days we sent humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.'
-Permanent Representative Jean-Francis Régis Zinsou – Benin
'In this regard, it is urgent to
find a negotiated solution to the situation in the Middle East which has
lasted too long already. Maintaining the status quo is untenable in all
respects. One cannot postpone any longer the recognition of Palestine as a
sovereign state, as a full member of the United Nations and living in harmony
with Israel. Such recognition will certainly create the momentum that will
lower tensions in the Middle East and will create the conditions for a just and
lasting settlement of conflicts and other complex problems that plague this
region.'
-Permanent Representative Milan Jaya Nyamrajsingh
Meetarbhan - Republic of Mauritius
'We urge the international
community to spare no effort in resolving the plight of the people of
Palestine. Mauritius support the two -State solution to the conflict. The
people of the State of Palestine has suffered for two long from the grave
injustice done to them and must be allowed to live in dignity and peace within
recognized borders. '
-Permanent Representative José Antonio Dos
Santos – Paraguay
'Once again, we call upon Israel
and Palestine to set the basis for a social, political and economic
construction that would enable both peoples to coexist peacefully and
harmoniously. Today more than ever we must give the strongest push to the
process of negotiation between the parties, that would allow for a lasting
peace, in order for Israel and Palestine to coexist side by side, with safe
borders, in peace. '
-Minister for Foreign Affairs Jorge Alberto Silva Borges - Cabo
Verde
'Cabo Verde sees urgency in
finding a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and understands that
there is no justification for the death of thousands of innocent people, the unwarranted
suffering of an entire population, and the desolation and destruction of infrastructure
in the Gaza Strip. We therefore urge the Parties to begin negotiations that may
lead to lasting peace and that allow both States, Israel and Palestine, to live
side by side in security.'
M.N./T.R.