April 19, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 20, 1427

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UNITED NATIONS, April 18: Saying that “the Palestinian tragedy including the occupation of some of Islam’s holiest sites in Al Quds is at the heart of the turmoil in the Middle East, Pakistan on Monday urged the United Nations, including the Security Council and the Secretary-General to play the central role in responding to the challenges posed by the turmoil in the Middle East.

Addressing the UN Council meeting on the Middle East issue including Palestine, Pakistan ambassador Munir Akram asserted: “It is also the principal root cause of the humiliation and anger in the Arab and Islamic world which breeds extremism and often spawns acts of terrorism.” “A just solution for Palestine is not just a regional imperative; it is a primary precondition for global peace and security,” he added.

Noting that the UN is the only player which can serve the role of mediator, facilitator and peacemaker, Mr Akram said. He added Israel and its newly elected government must be persuaded to desist from plans for a unilateral resolution’ adding “unilateralism, as we have witnessed elsewhere, is unlikely to promote a stable or sustainable peace in the Holy Land.” “Therefore, in the process of mutual confidence-building, Israel should halt further construction of the separation barrier and Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank. These actions will jeopardise the objective of creating a viable, democratic sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security. It would also jeopardise the resolution of final status issues, including the status of Al Quds and the holy places,” he stressed.