December 5, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 10, 1424

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 4: The United Nations General Assembly adopted on Wednesday six resolutions to demonstrate its belief that a final, peaceful settlement to the question of Palestine is essential to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East.

A resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine was passed with 160 states in favour, six against, and five abstentions.

The resolution welcomed the UN Security Council’s vision of a two-state solution and reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to the Road Map peace process.

The resolution called on both sides in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict to fulfil their Road Map obligations and stressed the importance of a credible, independent monitoring mechanism.

The Road Map — a peace process co-sponsored by the diplomatic quartet of the European Union, the Russian Federation, the UN and the United States — calls for parallel and reciprocal steps leading to Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side in peace and security by 2005.

A resolution supporting the work of the Assembly’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and calling for the work to continue, was approved by 97 states, with seven states against the resolution and 60 abstentions.

A resolution calling on the UN Secretariat’s Division for Palestinian Rights to be allowed to continue its work was passed by 98 states, with six states against the resolution and 63 abstentions.