PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WELCOMES PRESENTATION OF ‘ROAD MAP’ TO ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SETTLEMENT

PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WELCOMES PRESENTATION

OF ‘ROAD MAP’ TO ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SETTLEMENT

At its 271^st meeting, on 6 May 2003, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People adopted the following statement:

The Committee on the Exercise of the InalienableRights of the Palestinian People welcomes the formal presentation on 30 April 2003 of “A Performance-Based Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, as well as other important developments of recent weeks, notably the confirmation by the Palestinian Legislative Council of a new Palestinian Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.  For many months, the Quartet of international mediators –- the United States, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations –- has been intensively engaged with the Israelis, Palestinians and others with a view to drafting a plan that would realize the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security by 2005.

In this regard, the Committee stresses the need for both sides to accept and fully comply with the Road Map, begin its implementation without delay, and continue to cooperate with members of the Quartet and other facilitators.  Our Committee, for its part, supports the parties in this historic undertaking aimed at bringing peace to the region on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), agreements signed previously, and the initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, endorsed by the Beirut Arab League Summit.  The Committee also appeals to the Security Council to express its support for the Road Map and remain engaged on the issue.

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