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Mr President,
May I extend my congratulation to you and the delegation of Uganda for successful handling of the work of the Security Council this month.
We would also like to associate ourselves with statements made by the distinguished representatives of Egypt on behalf of the Non-Alignment Movement and Tajikistan on behalf of the OIC. May I also associate myself with the statements made by Saudi Arabia and Qatari Permanent Representatives just before me as well as with my friend Tunisian PR, who will speak after me. I am certain we all speak with one voice.
Mr President,
The resumption of Israel-Palestine direct negotiations last month had rekindled hopes for all of us for sustainable peace in the Middle East and permanent political settlement of Israel-Palestinian question. But I fear our hopes and optimism appear to be short-lived as the window of opportunity for meaningful and sustained negotiations is once again closing. We need to extend our hands and grasp this fleeting moment of history, we believe that the Security Council, the Middle East Quartet and the International Community must act together in tandem to prevent the collapse of the talks which seems more evident. Today’s open debate can effectively communicate this collective message, if we focus ourselves in three key areas. These three key areas of focus will give us the belief that we are moving in the right direction:
Firstly,unconditional cessation of all settlement activity. The International Community must call upon Israel to announce unconditional cessation of all settlement activity. Settlement activity violates international law, vitiates the atmosphere of talks and mutes the voice of peace and compassion. It amounts to a colonization procedure of Palestinian Territory. Settlement activity of recent times is of numerous patterns. The more worrying trend is in and around East Jerusalem, where the status of the centuries-old prayer places, mosques, churches and cemeteries of the Palestinian people are being altered in the name of excavation and creating new housing space. Violence by settlers against their Palestinian neighbours has become a routine - a regrettable corollary of this activity. We note with particular concern, the announcement made this Friday by the Israeli authorities to build 238 Housing Units in East Jerusalem’s neighbourhood of Ramot and Pisgat Ze’ev. Israel must stop this illegality. It must also end a calculated ambiguity on settlements in the West Bank, with a categorical renunciation of any new project. At this time, we are allowing settlement activity to derail the negotiations or cast its ugly shadow on the peace process of the world.
Secondly, improvement in the lives of Palestinian people. This is very important. The negotiation process must run in parallel with improvement in lives of the Palestinian people. A myriad of check-points, road-blocks, military siege and separation walls ---- that has infested the land of the Prophets and the Holy Books, must end. We acknowledge a set of measures taken by the Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank and improve Gaza access. Such measures must be sustained by a deeper political commitment to improve livelihoods in Palestine --- through respect of human rights, freedom of movement and unrestricted flow of commerce. It cannot be a tap which is left off and turn up.
Thirdly, up-gradation of assistance to the Palestinian Authority. International community must upgrade its assistance to Palestinian Authority, especially regarding plans announced in August 2009 for building the institutions of a Palestine State within two years. But we have continued the denigration of Palestinian administration and economy. Many independent studies, including ‘Economic Monitoring Report’ of the World Bank, have praised the performance of Palestinian Authority in institution-building and delivery of public services. The World Bank and the IMF have projected 8% growth rate in the West Bank and Gaza. This is very credible but we do not hear about such reports. The economic boom and entrepreneurship can be a solid edifice for the Palestinian Statehood for its people and infact it can rebut violence. It holds immense promise for lasting peace in the region and beyond. The economic and political momentum behind this significant change must not be lost. A strong and confident Palestine can better deliver peace, both on the negotiating table and in the streets of the region.
Mr President,
For lasting peace in the wider Middle East, we would also urge parallel progress on the Israel-Lebanon and Israel-Syria tracks, in accordance with relevant UN Resolutions. We must encourage these tracks to simultaneously move together with movement in Israel-Palestine negotiations.
Pakistan is supportive of lasting peace for all the inhabitants of the Middle East, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and nationality.
We continue to look forward to substantive and objective investigations by the Secretary General’s Panel of Inquiry on Freedom Flotilla-incident of 31 May 2010. We await a date of its publication, which should be early, preferably by the end of this year. The Freedom Flotilla was embarked on a noble Mission and those killed aboard certainly deserve our attention. The Panel must diligently pursue the matter. Justice must prevail and those affected must be duly compensated.
We share the collective objective of the international community for an independent, sovereign and viable State of Palestine --- with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, living side-by-side and in peace with all its neigbours. Our prayer today is that today’s open debate in the Council will bring us nearer to this objective.
I thank you.