Palestinian question:

Lanka for comprehensive solution - Dr Kohona

Sri Lanka believes that it is imperative to fully implement the Security Council resolutions and the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Middle East and Palestinian question, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona said addressing the Assembly's 64th session plenary meeting on the question of Palestine.

He said Sri Lanka has consistently extended its steadfast support for the Palestinian people in the pursuit of their inalienable rights, including the right to statehood.

This has been a matter persistently advocated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, over the last 40 years, Dr. Kohona said.

The Palestinian people have suffered for too long and have lived under occupation. The denial of their fundamental right to statehood due to continued Israeli occupation has seriously affected the socio-economic well-being of the Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, Dr. Kohona said.

"We believe that it is imperative to fully implement the Security Council Resolutions and the Resolutions adopted by this Assembly, to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Middle East and the Palestinian question.

The principle of land for peace, the road map, and the Arab Peace Initiative are important milestones in the process of a permanent two-state solution," he said. For peace to be viable and sustainable in the Palestinian territory, Israel must withdraw from all of the Palestinian Territories, back to the 1967 borders. It must end the economic blockade and siege of the Gaza Strip. The illegal expansion of settlements and continuation of the construction of the separation wall, changing the demographic character of the Palestinian territory, would only increase tensions and animosities between the two parties to the conflict. The Palestinian Authority needs to continue the implementation of its security plan and make every effort at its disposal to improve law and order, Dr. Kohona said.

"Sri Lanka wishes to reiterate its support for the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas. We stress the need to preserve and protect the national and democratic institutions which are vital for a future independent Palestinian State. We, therefore, urge the Palestinian groups to act speedily to reconcile and reunite within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority," he said.

Serious efforts must be made for the early resumption of negotiations by the two sides with the objective of reaching a final agreement, to enable both the people of Israel and the people of Palestine, to live side by side securely within recognised boundaries. In this regard, it is important that both parties abide by their previous agreements and obligations, and take concrete steps to consolidate confidence, Dr. Kohona said.