United world appeals for "renewed, urgent" efforts to bring peace to Middle East

Source: Xinhua | 05-12-2009 14:21

UNITED NATIONS, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Members of the UN Security Council are united on Monday in their calls for "urgent efforts by the parties and the international community to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East" on the basis of the two-state solution, which means an independent Palestinian state to live side by side in peace with a secure Israel.

The UN Security Council hold an open debate on Middle East issue at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, May 11, 2009. The UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on Monday to call for "renewed and urgent efforts" by the parties and the international community to achieve "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East" on the basis of "the two-state solution." (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The calls were contained in a presidential statement adopted at the end of an open Council debate, which said that "vigorous diplomatic action was needed to attain the goal set by the international community -- lasting peace in the region, based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement and terror, and a two-state solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations."

While encouraging ongoing work by the Middle East Quartet to support the parties' efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the 15-nation Council called upon all the relevant parties to fulfill their obligations under the performance-based Roadmap and refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations on all core issues.

The roadmap drawn up by the Quartet, a diplomatic group of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States in search of peace in the Middle East, calls for the peaceful co-existence of Israel and an independent Palestine and for an end to Jewish settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories as well as a halt to Palestinian attacks against Israel.