India has cautioned against sidetracking of the Palestinian issue while the world community focuses on other hotspots in the region. Speaking at the Security Council’s meeting on the situation in West Asia, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai picked the Israeli-Palestinian issue as the one that required immediate attention from both the U.N. and the League of Arab States.
“This issue cannot be ignored while we focus on recent developments in the region. There can be no durable peace in West Asia without a just and comprehensive settlement, based on the realisation by the Palestinian people of their inalienable right to a state of their own with internationally recognised borders, living side by side and in peace and security with Israel,” he said at the meeting in New York.
“We, therefore, urge this Council as well as the Arab League to urgently facilitate the resumption of the Middle East [West Asia] Peace Process,” added Mr. Mathai. He also lauded the Arab League’s role in resolving the Syrian crisis.
But India, he said, firmly rejected any military intervention.
Regional organisations
Speaking of regional organisations, he said UNSC’s cooperation with them, particularly with the League of Arab States, should avoid selectivity.
He added that cooperation with one regional organisation should not come at the cost of another.
“The objective of peaceful resolution of conflicts should determine the actions of the Security Council. All U.N. activities, including its cooperation with regional organisations, should be consistent with the provisions of the U.N. Charter. Both [U.N. and regional] organisations should use all tools of diplomacy to assist the concerned countries in transiting to an inclusive and participatory polity while maintaining social stability and cohesion,” said Mr. Mathai while underlining that the peculiarity of each situation must be kept in mind.
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