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Statement by New York, 13 February 2007
At the outset, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to you and your delegation for convening this open debate on the situation in the Middle East, an issue of paramount importance to international community. Let me also thank UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, for his briefing on recent developments in the Middle East. Before I proceed further, my delegation
wishes to associate itself with the statements to be made by the distinguished
delegate of Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as
by the delegation of Azerbaijan, on behalf of the Organization of
Islamic Conference. The Middle East conflict, which includes the question of Palestine, remains unsettled despite many efforts that have been made by different quarters thus far. It remains the most volatile conflict on the globe today, and continues to pose a clear and present danger to international peace and security. The intractability of conflict in the Middle East is a matter of deep concern to my delegation. We believe that an unprecedented step should be taken by all parties concerned to put an end to the conflict. Hopefully sooner, not later, there will come a moment when once-and-for all solution to the conflict is agreed and acceptable to all parties. In this context, we reaffirm Indonesia’s long-standing and relentless commitment to support and contribute in the process towards finding a peaceful solution that would fulfill the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination and statehood, to independently define and conduct its foreign relations, and to live in peace, and the rights of every Palestinian refugee to return to his or her homeland. At this stage, however, it is hard to think of the victory of peace by a one time lofty solution. We can always hope for an Oslo or Madrid type of efforts but at this moment we have to appreciate positive developments of any scale that keep the peace process in motion. Thus, Indonesia welcomes both the
November 2006 cease-fire agreement between the Government of Israel
and the Palestinian Authority and the understanding reached at the
Summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on 23 December 2006. My delegation believes that the Quartet should be complemented by the stakeholders in the region in its work to keep peace process in motion and to implement the Road Map for Peace. My delegation underlines the urgent need for the Palestinians to agree in establishing a unity government. My delegation, therefore, welcomes the signing of the Mecca Declaration by President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal on 8 February 2007, which lays the foundation for the formation of a national unity of government in Palestine. It is our fervent hope that this agreement will immediately be implemented and supported by the international community. We believe that the international community should respond to the encouraging development in a positive manner. The effective functioning of a unified Palestinian government will require institutional strengthening and capacity building. Hence, not only moral support will be needed but also material assistance. Mr. President, My delegation believes that peace can not fully be obtained by diplomacy alone, but it also requires the commitment of the parties concerned to the conflict to cease the use of force and begin to develop collaboration. Thus my delegation encourages the Israelis and Palestinians to exercise restraint and avoid any action that would obstruct the cease-fire and the implementation of the understanding between them, which is critical to the fulfillment of the economic and social rights of the Palestinians. Our call for the exercise of restraint from any extrajudicial and provocative action would also include the firm assurances by Israelis as the occupying power to maintain the nature of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and their Muslim character, including the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. Indonesia deeply deplores the excavation in the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. We therefore urge Israel to immediately stop the excavation because not only does the work have the potential to damage the mosque, which is highly revered by Muslims, but it will also increase tensions and complicate efforts to revive the peace process in the region. Mr. President, With reference to the situation in Lebanon, my delegation has mixed feelings about recent developments in the country. We are pleased with the steady implementation of the resolution 1701. UNIFIL, which is now standing at 12.167 personnel, has steadily been carrying out its mandate. However, tensions remain in the country. My delegation stresses the need for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. In this regard, we note with great concern the continuing Israeli air violations and the recent crossing by the Israeli military of the Blue Line that led to a series of exchange of fire causing injuries on the part of Lebanese security personnel. These actions are also a blatant violation of resolution 1701. My delegation is also concerned about the security situation in Lebanon. The very recent bomb blast tearing through two buses that caused at least a dozen casualties near Bikfaya town is deplorable. Previously, violent clashes between students in Beirut University had reinforced concerns in Beirut. We believe that the achievement of sustainable peace in Lebanon depends not only on the deployment of an international peace mission, such as UNIFIL, but also on the presence of political unity and national cohesion. Threats from within are not less perilous than those from outside. This will demand that all parties in Lebanon have strong commitment to national reconciliation and consensus and to the creation of a united and stable Lebanon. We strongly encourage countries in
the region to help to mitigate the consequences of the on-going political
turbulence in Lebanon and in preventing its ramification. As a final point, in the view of my delegation, peace will come to the region only when the Israeli government is willing to fully comply with the Security Council resolutions, including 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1515 (2003), which envisages the establishment of an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel. It will be a tragedy – for the Israelis, the Palestinians, and the world – if peace is rejected and sustained violence is permitted to continue to prevail in the region. Thank you.
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