BUREAU OF PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION ENDORSING ‘ROAD MAP’ TO SOLUTION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

BUREAU OF PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION

ENDORSING ‘ROAD MAP’ TO SOLUTION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

On 19 November 2003, the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People issued the following statement concerning the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1515 (2003):

The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the InalienableRights of the Palestinian People welcomes today’s unanimous adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1515 (2003), in which the Council endorsed the Quartet’s performance-based Road Map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and called on the parties to fulfil their obligations under the Road Map in cooperation with the Quartet and to achieve the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security.

The Bureau of the Committee is hopeful that the renewed expression of support for the Road Map by all members of the Council would provide the necessary impetus to the stalling political process and would send a clear and powerful signal to the leadership on both sides that concrete steps should be taken without further delay and without conditions in order to resume the peace dialogue and move forward vigorously with the implementation of the Road Map.

In the wake of the adoption of resolution 1515 (2003), we urge the Israelis and the Palestinians to do everything in their power to carry out fully their obligations under the Road Map and respect the letter and the spirit of the plan.  The Quartet, for its part, should assist the parties in all aspects of implementation of the Road Map.

This resolution is also a strong indication of the Council’s intention to remain fully engaged in efforts towards achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.  In this regard, the Bureau reiterates the long-standing position of the Committee that the United Nations should continue to maintain its permanent responsibility with respect to all aspects of the question of Palestine until it is resolved in a satisfactory manner, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions, in accordance with international legitimacy, and until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are fully realized.

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