Observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
New York, 25 November 2013
Mr Chairman,
On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives, the people and the Government of the Republic of Maldives, reaffirm the steadfast solidarity of the Maldives with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause. We reiterate our consistent support towards the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, within a secure and recognized border, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations thirty one years ago, Maldives-Palestine relations have grown from strength to strength. The Maldives believes in the importance of building international solidarity with the Palestinian people. On 29 November last year, Palestine marked an historic achievement when the United Nations General Assembly granted non-member observer State status to the State of Palestine with an overwhelming support from UN member countries. The Maldives was a proud co-sponsor of the Resolution adopted at the General Assembly that won Palestine the enhanced status. The Maldives also strongly backed the initiative by the Palestinians in their bid for full membership in the United Nations, and will continue to show its unwavering support for Palestinian membership in any other international organisation.
Mr. Chairman,
The Maldives commends the exemplary work of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, for their contribution to the just cause of the people of Palestine.
The people of Maldives have remained greatly invested, politically and emotionally, in the fight for an independent State of Palestine. We do not believe that meaningful dialogue can be achieved, without the fundamental recognition of the right of existence of the State of Palestine.
Mr. Chairman,
The Maldives strongly condemns the ongoing flagrant violations of human rights in the occupied territories by the State of Israel. We are deeply saddened by the recurring cycles of violence and indignity being faced by our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We particularly deplore the effects of this conflict on the children of the region. It is a travesty that the people of Palestine continue to be denied their most basic right: their right to an independent sovereign State. It is only when this basic right is realized that the Palestinians and Israelis can negotiate as equals. And while we welcome the newly initiated dialogue between the parties to the conflict, we reiterate our call on the international community to remain vigilant, and to maintain its focus on reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the problems of the Middle East. It is in the interest of the entire international community that a lasting solution is found at the earliest.
Thank you
