ID :
354339
Sat, 01/17/2015 - 07:01
Auther :

UN Security Council Must Step In To Address Conflict In Palestine

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council must step in and shoulder its Charter responsibility to address the conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through bilateral negotiations have faced a prolonged deadlock. Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the UN Hussein Haniff said the conflict constitutes a threat to international peace and security beyond the confine of the region. "Palestine had earlier this month acceded to various international conventions and treaties, covering issues such as the Cluster Munitions, the Law of the Sea, the International Criminal Court, and the Transnational Organised Crime. "Such move on the part of Palestine should not be seen as undermining or jeopardizing the peace talks. Instead, the international community should welcome the move as a step in the right direction," he said in his speech at the Quarterly Open Debate On the Middle East at the UN Security Council, in New York on Thursday. He said in Malaysia's view, by acceding to such international conventions and treaties, Palestine's actions would be constraints by and bench marked against internationally agreed norms and standards. "It would also contribute towards deterring war crime and ending impunity by the conflicting parties. It is definitely the more preferable and legitimate path than turning to violence and extremism to achieve their legitimate right of self determination," he said. Hussein said thus it would be in everyone's interest to embrace Palestine as a responsible member of the international community, bound by the rules and norms of international law. He said Malaysia sincerely hoped to play a constructive role in the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, particularly in the Middle East. "We look forward to contribute in the maintenance of international peace and security and in upholding the UN Charter, including through our long-held value of moderation as a useful tool to counter extremism, reconcile differences and resolve disputes," he said. He said for the past several years, Malaysia has called for an international platform for the silent majority, for example the voices of moderation, to come together and counter the increasing sentiment of extremism in all forms. "The voices of moderation must prevail against the voices of those who espouse hate, ignorance, violence and extremism. We must summon the political will that is necessary to bridge the differences and restore stability to the lives of all people of the Middle East, regardless of religion, ethnicity or nationality," he said. -- BERNAMA

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