Malaysia Can Succed As Peace Mediator Via UNSC Seat, Says Palestinian Official

By Mohd Faizal Hassan PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Palestine is confident that Malaysia will be successful in facilitating peace-building process in war-torn countries now that it has secured a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Palestinian Cabinet Secretary-General, Ali Abu Diak, expressed the hope that Putrajaya's membership would enable more negotiations to be held in resolving international security issues throughout the world especially in Gaza. "Malaysia fully deserves the seat," he said when asked on Malaysia's success in securing a non-permanent seat in the UNSC. Ali said this to Bernama after a closed-door meeting with Chief Secretary to the Government, Dr Ali Hamsa, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Biennial Conference 2014 here Sunday. Dr Ali Hamsa is now the President of CAPAM. Palestine, barely beginning to recover from a 50-day bombarding by Israel in which more than 2,200 people were killed, was specially invited to CAPAM by the Malaysian Government to attend the conference although it is not a Commonwealth member. "We are very happy about it. We think this is very important (achievement), and Malaysia deserves the seat. We think it is also important for Malaysia to continue to support Palestinians," said Ali. It was reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has outlined Malaysia's five priorities in its role as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Najib had said Malaysia aimed to advance moderation globally; advocate mediation as an approach to conflict resolution; promote UN peacekeeping operations; facilitate the peace-building process in strife-torn countries and pursue deliberations on the UNSC's comprehensive reformation. Malaysia secured 187 votes from the 193 UN member states, in a secret ballot, in New York last Thursday. Elaborating on the achievement by Malaysia, Ali pointed out that this triumph would help to find a resolution to end the Israeli occupation in Palestine. "This could really help us with Malaysia in the Security Council. We believe Malaysia will continue to support us," he said. He also said that the Palestinian leadership was planning to apply for a seat in the UNSC in the future. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Public Administration, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said she believed Malaysia is capable of fulfilling its responsibilities in the UNSC and therefore deserved the position. "I congratulate Malaysia on the position in the UNSC. I wish you all the best while promoting moderation and world peace," she said. About 1,500 delegates from 53 countries are attending the three-day conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, which started Sunday. The biennial conference of CAPAM is organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) and Commonwealth Secretariat with the theme of 'Public Service Transformation: A New Conversation'. In conjunction with the conference, an inaugural Commonwealth Media Forum co-hosted by the Chief Secretary to the Government's Office and Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, will be held on Tuesday. --BERNAMA