NEW YORK — Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, has called for the resumption of negotiations on the Palestine issue.
At the UN Security Council’s meeting on the Middle East situation, including the Palestine issue, on Thursday, Quý said the only way forward was the two-state solution, which envisions the establishment of the state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital coexisting peacefully with the state of Israel within safe and internationally-recognised borders on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and UN resolutions.
He welcomed the ceasefire and lauded constructive efforts of countries in the region, the UN, the Middle East Quartet and other international partners on the issue.
Highlighting the need to follow the ceasefire and seek a long-term and sustainable solution to the conflict, he urged all parties to exercise maximum self-restraint and take steps to deal with the root cause of the conflict. He also called on Israel to end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the demolition of Palestinians’ houses and the deportation of Palestinians.
The Vietnamese representative stressed the significance of ensuring unobstructed humanitarian supplies in the Gaza Strip, hailed the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and international organisations for offering relief to Palestinians in Gaza during and after the conflict.
He also called on the international community to enhance support for humanitarian and reconstruction activities in Gaza.
Expressing concerns over the possibility of maintaining the ceasefire, participants urged parties concerned to continue exercising self-restraint and refraining from actions that could complicate the situation.
Several countries also announced relief packages for Palestinians on the occasion. —VNS